| November 3, 2020 
 Today is Election Day, and while we are accustomed to mostly getting results the night of or the morning after an election, this year could be different, officials have warned. That's because a record number of Michigan voters requested absentee ballots for the general election. Legally, those absentee ballots couldn't be counted by local clerks until 7 a.m. today. Thanks to a new law, though, more than 50 Michigan communities had already started processing the ballots, in anticipation of officially starting the count this morning. How long will it take for all the results to come through? It's hard to say, but it could be several days, some elections experts have predicted. MORE  The Michigan Court of Claims last week ruled Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s directive banning open carry in the polls was illegal. That means, unless you are in a gun-free zone, open carrying a firearm inside a polling place in Michigan today is legal. What’s not legal is voter intimidation, something that’s a little more difficult to define. That's because citizens, even if legally armed, may show support for a candidate or ballot initiative if they remain more than 100 feet from a polling location. MORE ►Open carry allowed at some Michigan polls after Supreme Court indecision  The Justice Department is increasing its focus on Michigan cities to ensure compliance with federal voting law. Personnel from the department’s Civil Rights Division, as well as staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will oversee jurisdictions in seven Michigan cities, the federal government announced yesterday. The monitoring efforts will include maintaining contact with state and local election officials, ensuring people with disabilities can vote and prohibiting voter intimidation or suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion, according to the department. MORE ►Extra sheriff's deputies assigned to prevent voter intimidation at Washtenaw County polls
 Michigan helped catapult Donald Trump to the presidency four years ago. Can he do it again? Former Vice President Joe Biden has a 95% chance of winning Michigan, according to fivethirtyeight.com, a website headed by Nate Silver that analyzes the polls. But Trump pulled off a shocker in 2016 and he’s been furiously campaigning in Michigan to repeat that feat. As election returns come in, it’s helpful to know how cities and townships voted in 2016. MORE  Many Michiganders decided to vote absentee this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. But if you are voting in person today, there are some things to remember. We made a handy video to help you remember the dos and don'ts for taking part in the democratic process. If you are confused about any voting rules, your voting status or your voting location, you can get questions answered any time by visiting michigan.gov/vote. But maybe this video will help answer some of your questions:WATCH Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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