Election officials in battleground Michigan grapple with sweeping voting changes and a presidential election

This year, Michigan residents will experience easier voting thanks to new laws that establish early voting, automatically send out absentee ballots, and mandate the installation of ballot drop boxes. However, implementing these changes has made running elections more challenging for local clerks. The highly decentralized system and increased workload have raised concerns about potential errors due to lack of training or fatigue. These changes come amidst a climate of higher turnover in election officials, as some leave due to retirement, increased workloads, or threats and abuse. Despite the challenges, officials are working to adapt and ensure smooth elections.