Michiana early voter check-in

MICHIANA. -- Voices are being used across Michiana, voters getting their early ballots with just under three weeks until the Nov. 5 elections.

In Indiana, early voting has been a bit lower compared to this time in 2020, but in Michigan, an important swing state, early voting numbers are coming in higher than the last presidential election.

Elkhart County Clerk, Christopher Anderson explained in Elkhart, they’re seeing about 1000 early voters a day, but he says it was about 1600 a day in 2020 and nearly double the amount of absentee early voters than in-person in 2020.

Anderson says part of that may be Covid and social distancing regulations during the pandemic, causing more people to vote without going in-person. So, while numbers might not be as high for early voting yet, he says he still expects a high turnout overall.

“I do think that the turnout is going to be very, very good in Elkhart County, I think it’s gonna be very good throughout the state of Indiana, and I think it’s gonna be very good throughout the nation because we do have those competitive races, everybody is hearing about the candidates on a minute-by-minutes basis,” said Anderson

During this election, however, the spotlight is on Michigan, and so far, early voting remains popular for the swing state. In Berrien County, three weeks before the 2020 presidential election, 11 percent of issued early voting ballots had been received back by the county. That’s a notable difference compared to three weeks from the 2024 election, with 29 percent received back.

In Cass County, 32 percent of ballots were received back in 2020, while 36 percent of those early ballots have been received back this year.

While Michigan voters can register in-person up until Election Day, the deadline to register online or by mail is Monday Oct. 21. Early voting will then begin statewide Saturday, Oct. 26.

For voters in Indiana, registration is now closed, but if you are already registered to vote, there is still time to submit a request for an absentee ballot.

For more information on how to vote in your area, click here.