Amid the national debate over the safety and efficacy of absentee voting, Michigan can offer an example of how election reforms will play out in the 2020 election.

And the battleground state’s local officials have an overall positive outlook about it and other election reforms that were included in a 2018 constitutional amendment, according to a new University of Michigan survey.

Tom Ivacko

In the Spring 2020 Michigan Public Policy Survey, local leaders said they see benefits from increased ease of voting and voter turnout expected with the reforms in Michigan. These reforms are also expected to bring new benefits and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at U-M’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy conducts the MPPS every spring. Among the survey’s key findings:

• 60% of city and township officials say no-excuse absentee voting has had positive impacts on their administration of elections so far, while 14% report negative impacts.
• 45% report positive impacts from allowing mail-in and online voter registration up to just 15 days before an election (moved up from a 30-day cut-off, previously), compared to 19% who say this has been a negative reform overall.
• 40% say that same-day voter registration up to and including election day at local clerks’ offices has had negative impacts overall, compared with 33% who report positive impacts.

In 2018, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot proposal that allowed for no-excuse absentee voting, mail-in and online voter registration within 15 days of an election, and same-day in-person voter registration.

According to the survey, local government leaders are concerned about the workload and staffing that will be required on Election Day to manage the expected influx of voters registering that day as well as absentee ballots. In particular, a majority, 55%, of respondents expect problems related to the impact of same-day voter registration.

“There is good for voters with expanded registration and voting options, but the expected increases in absentee ballots and same day registrations, including what is expected to be an increase in voter turnout overall, is a real concern for these local leaders. Though it is interesting too that the city and township clerks, who actually administer the elections, are less concerned than other local officials who are less directly involved,” said Tom Ivacko, CLOSUP’s interim director.

There is good for voters with expanded registration and voting options, but the expected increases in absentee ballots and same day registrations, including what is expected to be an increase in voter turnout overall, is a real concern for these local leaders

Tom Ivacko

“Viewing this in a national perspective, we understand that every state will have its own set of benefits and challenges which will need to be addressed in the coming months. In that respect, Michigan seems to be ahead of the curve,” said Natalie Fitzpatrick, one of the CLOSUP researchers.

As one local official put it, “The positive impact is the number of individuals registering and voting on election day. The negative is the number of individuals registering and voting on election day—and the extra staff that it takes.”

Debra Horner, the MPPS project manager, encouraged all to cast ballots: “Although COVID-19 is presenting voters and local clerks alike with unique challenges this year, we hope all Michiganders will find a way to vote safely.”

Launched in the wake of the Great Recession in 2009 by CLOSUP, the MPPS is conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Townships Association. The latest survey was conducted between March 30 and June 1.

More information:

• Spring 2020 CLOSUP Report
• Michigan Public Policy Survey
• U-M Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy
• U-M Ford School of Public Policy