Michiganders have voted in two primary elections and one general election since the early 2020 beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. And if you visited the polls in person during those elections, you were among a declining group of voters nationwide.
Trends presented by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab show a drastic divergence between the 2018 midterm and 2020 presidential election in those choosing to vote absentee by mail as opposed to on Election Day. This timeframe also includes Michigan’s adoption of no-reason absentee voting, joining 30 other states in doing so.
According to Michigan Farm Bureau Government Relations Specialist Matt Kapp, new election rules, the COVID-19 pandemic, record-breaking voter turnout and highly contested or controversial elections can all contribute to an increase in absentee ballots.
“Midterm elections have historically low turnout,” Kapp said. “So, if you’re too busy with your farm or agribusiness to make it to the polls on Nov. 8 or simply don’t want to vote in person, we urge you to please take time to request and complete an absentee ballot.
“We want our county Farm Bureau members and rural Michigan to have their voices be heard. Voting via absentee ballot provides another method to participate in the democratic process.”
He also encouraged voters to review the organization’s 2022 Friends of Agriculture.
“These candidates are endorsed by our nonpartisan political action committee, AgriPac, and we believe will craft and vote on legislative and regulatory proposals that enable our families, farms and businesses to thrive.”
New absentee voters
Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center’s (MVIC) Vote at Home section to request an absentee ballot. Just be sure to return your ballot within two weeks of Election Day.
Returning absentee voters
If you’ve already requested to vote absentee and need to check the status of your ballot, look up your personalized voter information also located on the MVIC. Your unique dashboard will display a ballot preview, if your ballot was sent/received, your clerk’s contact information, your polling location and more.