Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2022

CONTACT: press@securedemocracyusa.org

NEW POLL: Michigan voters strongly support early voting, pre-processing ballots; trust local election officials ahead of 2022

LANSING, MI — Seven in ten Michigan 2022 voters would support election reforms to increase early voting opportunities and allow pre-processing of mail ballots so accurate election results are delivered faster, according to a new poll commissioned by the nonpartisan election policy group Secure Democracy USA. 

Conducted by the Glengariff Group, the poll surveyed 600 Michigan registered voters between June 15-18, 2022. The new survey also found that voters trust Michigan’s election process and local election officials. The key findings of the poll include:

Michigan elections viewed as fair and accurate

  • 66.6% of Michigan voters trust that the process for counting votes in Michigan elections is fair and accurate

  • 72.5% of Michigan voters believe the entire election process in Michigan is fair.

  • 75% of Michigan voters are confident that votes cast in November will be counted as voters intended

Michigan voters support improving election laws, including early voting and pre-processing ballots

  • 69.4% of Michigan voters support a proposal to allow seven days of Election Day-style early voting hours, including the weekend before the General Election.

  • 71.7% of Michigan voters support a proposal to allow local clerks to verify and process absentee ballots during the seven-day early voting period to help ensure final results can be called sooner on or after Election Day.

  • 76.7% of Michigan voters support a proposal to require an online government website that regularly updates the number of absentee ballots that have been requested, the number of absentee ballots yet to be returned and on election night reports exactly how many votes remain to be counted.

Michigan voters are ready to move on from the 2020 election

  • 73.5% of Michigan voters say it is time to move on from the 2020 election and focus on the future.

  • 62% of Michigan voters said there was no, or very minor, fraud in the 2020 election and it had no impact on the results.

  • When asked about competing narratives about the 2020 election, 60% of Michigan voters believe the report of Republican Senate leaders, which released a report documenting that the 2020 election results were accurate, over the false claims of former President Trump and his campaign.

“Michigan voters are sending a clear signal to political leaders in the state that they support free, fair, and accessible elections,” said Diego Echeverri, advocacy director at Secure Democracy USA. “Ahead of a pivotal 2022 election, now is the time for lawmakers in Lansing must work together to make simple common sense changes, such as allowing pre-processing of ballots and extending early voting opportunities, to improve Michigan’s elections.”

The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a Michigan statewide survey of registered voters.   The 600 sample, live operator telephone survey was conducted on June 15-18, 2022 and has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. 26.0% of respondents were contacted via landline telephone. 74.0% of respondents were contacted via cell phone telephone. This survey was commissioned by Secure Democracy USA.

To view the full poll survey and results, click here.

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Secure Democracy USA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to build confidence in our elections and improve voter access across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We use sophisticated survey and messaging research to inform our strategy and we collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, policy  experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.