Michigan Secretary of State urges people with absentee ballots not to submit via mail

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday that voters with absentee ballots should submit them via a drop box or turn them in at a local clerk's office rather than submitting them through the mail.

The Associated Press reported that the state official noted that dropping off a ballot by hand will make certain that the vote arrives by 8 p.m. on the day of the election and gets counted.

Benson also reportedly said that those who still wish to ask for an absentee ballot should seek it from the clerk in-person rather than trying to obtain it via mail.

"We want to ensure that every valid vote counts and is received on time," Benson said to reporters, according to the wire service.

Over half of the more than 3 million absentee ballots requested have already been returned, the AP reported.