Low turnout for the first day of early voting

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — It was a slow day at the polls Saturday for election workers in Grand Rapids as both workers and voters adjusted to the new early in-person voting.

The mandatory early voting period began Saturday. Grand Rapids registered voters were able to go to GRPS University, Saint Peter and Paul School or Ottawa Hills High School to cast their vote early in the presidential primary.

Grand Rapids prepares for early voting

Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said he did not know how many voters would come out on the first day. Within the first two hours, the Grand Rapids locations only got a handful of voters. Hondorp hopes that number will draw other voters to come out early to avoid crowds on Election Day.

“This is a great time to come in. Obviously, when it’s not busy like this, I mean, to take your time, you don’t feel rushed. When we just have the Tuesday Election Day voting, sometimes voters feel a little stressed out. There’s lines, so this really gives a way for voters to plan their vote,” Hondorp said.

How does early voting work? It depends on your county

Early voting continues up until Feb. 25. Voters are still able to vote on Election Day and submit absentee ballots. They can also bring absentee ballots to early voting sites to get them counted.

Clerks: Vote totals not generated until election night

Hondorp said laptops, tabulator heads and tabulator cards will be locked and sealed every night. Vote totals will not be reported until after polls close on election night.

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