October 19, 2020
MICHIGAN – Today, VoteSafe Michigan released an ad featuring Walker City Clerk Sarah Bydalek touting the safety and security of absentee voting in Michigan. Bydalek, an election official for 13 years, is one of the “guardians of democracy” working this election.
“Absentee voting in Michigan is nothing new,” Bydalek says in the ad. “I can assure you our system is safe and secure. We have a strict verification and ID process once your ballot arrives. Whether you vote in person or by mail, have faith, your vote will be counted.”
Michiganders have a wider variety of voting options available to them due to 2018’s Proposal 3, which guarantees same-day registration and no-excuse absentee voting in the state. So far more than 1 million citizens in Michigan have already returned absentee ballots and nearly 3 million ballots have been requested, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
“Sarah is just one of the many dedicated election officials and poll workers who will make sure Michiganders’ votes are counted safely and securely,” said former Michigan Republican Congressman and physician Joe Schwarz. “Despite the pandemic, no one in Michigan should have to choose between their health and their right to vote due to Proposal 3. They just need to plan ahead and select the option that works best for them to vote safely.”
In one of the first major elections under Proposal 3, a record-breaking 2.5 million plus Michiganders voted in the August primary with more than 1.6 million casting a record total of absentee ballots.
Schwarz and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are leaders within VoteSafe Michigan, a bipartisan coalition raising awareness about voting options.
About VoteSafe Michigan
VoteSafe Michigan is a bipartisan coalition of voting experts, elected officials, health care professionals, and community leaders who support accessible, secure mail-in ballots and safe, in-person voting sites. VoteSafe Michigan is part of VoteSafe US, a national cross-partisan coalition of elections administrators and organizations that endorse the simple principle that every American has the right to vote safely amidst the pandemic.
Press Contact: Matt Friedman 248.762.1430 mfriedman@tannerfriedman.com