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

Butrealizingthosesavingswilltakesometime,andvoterscouldencounterchallengesastheygetreassignedtorenumberedprecincts,differentprecincts,ornewpollingplaces,especiallyifclerksdon’tequipconsolidatedpollingsitestohandlealargerpoolofvoters. Clerksaren’trequiredtoconsolidateprecincts,butmanyhavechosento.ClintonTownshipinMacombCounty,forinstance,cutitsnumberofprecinctsfrom42to20,whichwillallowforanestimated30%savingsinwages.Livoniaisdownto26from44,whichitsaidwouldleadtoa“smoothervotingprocessonElectionDay.”CommunitiesfromAlgonac,inSt.ClairCounty,toWalker,inKentCounty,havealsomadecuts. GrandRapidsexpectscostsavingsfromfewerprecinctsGrandRapids,thestate’ssecondlargestcity,isgoingfrom74precinctsto59.CityClerkJoelHondorpsaidthenewrequirementmakessenseinaneraandinacitywheremostvotersarecastingballotsabsenteeorduringearlyvoting.  Related: By2027,Hondorpsaid,thecity’svotingmachineswillbeadecadeoldanddueforreplacemen