(CBS-DETROIT) – More than 140,000 voters in Michigan cast ballots on Saturday, the first day of early voting.
The 145,134 ballots exceeded expectations of state and local election officials, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
At least twelve early voting sites had more than 1,000 voters.
“I am thrilled to see so many enthusiastic Michigan citizens showing up in record numbers across the state to make their voices heard,” Secretary Benson said in a statement.
Early voting is the newest voting option in Michigan. In 2022, voters approved a constitutional amendment giving Michigan residents the right to vote in person at early voting locations.
More than 1.4 million Michigan voters have returned their ballots, according to the state’s voting dashboard.
Learn more about early voting here.
