LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Early voting numbers have already reached into the millions statewide, leaving some Mid-Michigan officials shocked by the turnout.

Between absentee voting and early in-person voting, nearly 2.6 million people have already voted in Michigan. That equates to nearly 36% voter turnout before Election Day even arrives.

“I like the convenience,” said Beth Boyd, who cast her vote at an early voting site in Delta Township on Friday. “That you can do it if you have time for it, and I’m not obligated to get up at 6 a.m. one day to get in line at 7 a.m..”

It turns out Boyd isn’t alone. Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark said that from the day their early voting site opened, people just kept coming.

“On day one, Saturday, Oct. 26, we got more people to vote early than in the previous four elections combined,” she said. “It was solid and stable, we by no means expected such a turnout.”

As of Friday, November 1st, with just two days left for early voting, the number of early ballots in the community topped 2,600 and nearly 9,000 mail-in ballots were returned.

“We are processing more than one voter per minute during early voting,” Clark said.

There are large numbers at the community level, but from a county-wide perspective the numbers are even larger. To date, Ingham County has cast a total of more than 19,000 ballots.

Nearly 5,700 ballots were cast in Clinton County, just behind Eaton County, where nearly 7,000 ballots were cast.

Jackson County Clerk Cierra Sowle is still shocked by the turnout.

“In the first six days alone, we saw over 10,000 voters take advantage of early voting,” she told News 10.

Sowle said feedback on early voting so far has been positive. Many voters told her that they had voted early for shorter queues and flexible times. Voting is ongoing, but Sowle said it already looks like record-breaking turnout for a presidential election.

“I definitely see this as a record year,” she said. “People are really excited to get out and exercise their constitutional right to vote, and like I said, there are so many ways to do that now.”

People in Mid-Michigan in most communities have until November 3rd to vote at an early voting center near them. Otherwise, voters may cast their vote, register to vote, or submit a mail-in ballot until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

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