(WXMI) – Starting Saturday, you can vote early in Michigan. Nothing is officially tabulated until Election Day; However, depending on the area, processing may begin earlier.

FOX 17 contacted both Kent County officials and Ottawa County officials to find out how early voting is going in the primary election and how much it costs.

You can cast your vote in person nine days before Election Day in West Michigan. You can also submit your postal vote in person.

The numbers have been low so far, said Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons.

“Not just for Kent County, but really throughout the state,” Posthumus Lyons.

In Kent and Ottawa counties, early voting looks a little different.

“For us, it’s a collaboration with our local clerks,” Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck said.

In Kent County, for example, each municipality conducts its own early voting.

There are four centralized voter centers in Ottawa County.

According to FOX 17, early voting in Kent County cost an average of $156 per voter.

That number is about $143 per voter in Ottawa County.

However, the Ottawa County official notes that much of that spending is subsidized by state funds.

In total, Kent County will spend about $1.5 million this year on personnel and equipment to conduct early voting, including the November election.

“So you're looking at about half a million dollars for each election,” Posthumus Lyons said.

In Ottawa County, the cost so far this year has been about $631,000, not including the November election.

“The amazing thing is that with the federal grants and the process that was given to us by the Legislature and the money that is allocated for early voting, we are currently looking at a cost of about $80,000,” Roebuck said .

Over time, the Ottawa County clerk expects costs to go down.

FOX 17 also looked at early in-person voter turnout. Kent County officials say they expect higher numbers in November because it is a general election.

“We estimate that just over 3% of voters who participated in these early voting primaries this year used this option. “Very low numbers to get going,” Posthumus Lyons said.

In the February election in Ottawa County, 1,551 voters participated in early in-person voting.

“In August we had 2,862 and that represented about 34% turnout,” Roebuck said.

Ottawa County officials expect at least 70% voter turnout in November.

The third election will take place in November. Early in-person voting is an option for Michiganders.

“I would be a little frustrated at the low turnout, but I will reserve judgment on that. Because it's new again. “This is the first time our voters will have the opportunity to vote early,” said Posthumus Lyons.

Both Kent and Ottawa County officials say it doesn't matter which method you vote; It's just important that you do it.

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