Michigan’s current permanent absentee option available in some localities is not what we would consider a true permanent absentee option, as voters are only sent applications, not ballots, for each election. This increases barriers to the ballot box and increases paperwork (and cost!) for both the voter and the localities. Switching to a true permanent option and making the list statewide would increase voter access and save the state significant expense by cutting down on the requests they need to process, with localities saving an average of $1 for every request they no longer need to process.

With a drastic increase in mail ballots, Michigan has a great opportunity to expand it’s pilot program statewide and reach for the gold standard of post-election security by implementing risk limiting audits. Additionally, to improve its data infrastructure, automatic voter registration would improve upon Michigan’s same day voter registration to ensure that any eligible resident who wants to cast a ballot in an election can.

Michigan has already expanded drop boxes as a result of the pandemic, and should make these return options permanent fixtures for all future elections. Additionally, creating vote centers that any voter in the county can vote at and allowing voters to drop off their absentee ballots at polling places would further lessen the reliance on the postal service and increase voter convenience and confidence.

While Michigan has reimbursed counties that have decided to prepay postage for the 2020 elections, the state should make prepaid postage statewide and permanent for all future elections. Guaranteeing prepaid postage is a voter-centric reform that removes an economic barrier to the vote.

Accepting ballots with Election Day postmarks is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner. Current law allows for ballots to be requested up to 4 days before the election, and that is most likely too short of a timespan for a ballot request to be processed, mailed, voted, and returned by mail by the close of polls. We recommend that not only does a state allow the physical postmark on a ballot, but that it also integrates into the USPS system for electronic postmarks to serve as validation that a ballot was mailed on time.

Ballot tracking software such as Ballot Scout or Ballot TRACE can be a very cost effective tool to improve Michigan’s current ballot tracking system by allowing voters to track their ballot much like an Amazon package. An expanded notification system helps keep rejection rates low and increases voter confidence and participation.

Processing mail ballots to get them ready for counting before election day will help Michigan get faster election results. Michigan allowed some counties to do preprocessing as a result of the pandemic; however, the State should expand preprocessing to at least 7 days and make it permanent for all future elections in order to reap the benefits.

Voters should have sufficient time to correct any issues with their ballot In the event that a voter’s ballot is rejected. Michigan’s current cure deadline of one day before election day leaves many voters behind. We recommend allowing voters to cure any issues for 5 days after the election.