[TheLion]

Wonder what part of the state these early returns are coming in from?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Don’t know but some blogs are already calling it for Romney with CNN as a source but it looks like there’s a way to go yet.

[Thud]

Early returns are usually mostly absentee ballots. The most common pattern is for some of the absentees to be counted first, in the interval between closing of the polls and opening of the precinct returns, then the clerks put the rest of the absentee ballots aside as the rush of precinct returns hit, then they get back to the majority of still uncounted absentees when they have more time.

In some states most of the absentee ballots are counted before the polls close and the majority of absentee returns are released first.

I have no idea which pattern Michigan follows. It might vary from one county to another - that is true of some states.

Hopefully some one from Michigan will tell us which of these models Michigan follows.

[grellis]

Farming communities from mid-mitten northward; UP counties in the Eastern time zone. Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Ingham and Kent counties won't announce until well after nine, prolly after ten.

BTW--two UP counties are in the CTZ, so their polling stations are just getting ready to close.

[billmor]

Less than half of the Upper Precincts have any results in yet..

Here is a link..roll your cursor over each county to see what percentage is reporting...

http://www.politico.com/miprimaries/mimap-popup.html