Michigan counties will post partial results as they come on their county sites tonight, but Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is still sticking with her warning that “the results of today’s elections may not be known until well into Wednesday.”
Poll workers must match ballot numbers and voter signatures before the ballot can be counted. Most counties use older, slower tabulators, meaning certain employees in some counties could still be there counting until well after midnight.
In Michigan, some clerks offices began counting once polls opened. Michigan law prevents authorities from even opening envelopes containing mail-in ballots before Election Day.
A person who begins counting absentee ballots in the morning, must stay until the counting is complete, according to the Secretary of State’s office, meaning they are essentially in counting sequestration until the last absentee ballot is counted.
More context: The state of Michigan sent out 993,814 absentee by mail ballots. As of this morning, the Secretary of State’s office said 804,216 had been returned. Voters have until 8 p.m. CT to return ballots at the clerk of court.