Election Officials Urge Early Voting Ahead of November 3 Midterms

Election officials in Michigan and California are pushing for early ballot returns to streamline the counting process for the November 3 general election. In Michigan, more than 789,000 ballots have been cast as of October 20, with absentee ballot requests increasing 17% compared to the 2022 midterms. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie advised voters to use drop boxes or hand-delivery rather than mail to ensure ballots arrive by the 8 p.m. deadline on Election Day.

In California, Keaton Denlay, the Butte County Clerk-Recorder, urged residents to vote early to provide more complete results on election night. The Butte County Clerk-Recorder’s Office has already processed approximately 10,000 ballots, which are currently undergoing signature verification and tabulation.

Both regions are expanding in-person access. Michigan's statewide early voting sites open October 24, though some cities like East Lansing and Grand Rapids opened earlier. Similarly, Butte County will open voter-assistance centers in phases starting October 24 and October 31. In Michigan, voters must now register in person at local clerk offices, as online and mail registration deadlines have passed.