Michigan is consolidating election precincts. Will voters face longer lines?

Across Michigan, thousands of voters are getting new precincts — and in some cases new polling places — as officials redraw their maps to take advantage of a new state law that allows for more consolidation of precincts.

The new law, which increased the maximum size of a precinct from 2,999 to 4,999 voters, is a consequence of recent voter-approved initiatives to expand access to early and absentee voting, which Michiganders have embraced. The law went into effect early last year, and some communities put changes into effect before the 2024 general election. Others, including Livonia in Wayne County, will run their newly consolidated precincts for the first time next week during local primaries. The shift could eventually save communities a lot of money, experts say.

But realizing those savings will take some time, and voters could encounter challenges as they get reassigned to renumbered precincts, different precincts, or new polling places, especially if clerks don’t equip consolidated polling sites to handle a larger pool of voters.

Clerks aren’t required to consolidate precincts, but many have chosen to. Clinton Township in Macomb County, for instance, cut its number of precincts from 42 to 20, which will allow for an estimated 30% savings in wages. Livonia is down to 26 from 44, which it said would lead to a “smoother voting process on Election Day.” Communities from Algonac, in St. Clair County, to Walker, in Kent County, have also made cuts.


https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-consolidating-election-precincts-will-voters-face-longer-lines