Absentee Voters Ahead of the March Presidential Primary

It's getting very close to the time when we all head out to the polls and place our votes. And then we all get to wear the I voted sticker for the rest of the day.

According to the Lansing State Journal, Lansing area election officials expect a continued increase in absentee voters ahead of the March presidential primary.

In Ingham County, voters have requested 24,061 absentee ballots so far. That's almost double the number of absentee ballots cast during the 2016 presidential primary, which had 13,456 absentee ballots received.

One reason for the increase is Michigan's no reason absentee ballot law known as Prop 3, which took effect this year.

Michigan previously required voters to explain why they could not go to the polls on Election Day and needed an absentee ballot.

Staff processed roughly 3,900 absentee ballots in the 2016 primary and has already issued over 5,000 ballots this year.

Having to count more absentee ballots could potentially delay election night results. Michigan clerks cannot begin processing absentee ballots until Election Day.