NOVI (AP) — Roughly 1.6 million Michigan voters cast absentee ballots, but there were still those who braved the coronavirus threat Tuesday and voted in person during the state’s primary election.

Among them was Irma Ramirez, a 73-year-old from Novi who cast her ballot at the Detroit suburb’s Civic Center complex.

“I wanted to make sure that my voice was heard,” Ramirez said after she voted.

The primary features several races in which nominees will be chosen to vie in November’s election for seats in the U.S. House and the Legislature. With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, the primary election was marked by a surge of mail-in absentee ballots.

Uyoung Suggs, a 40-year-old from Novi, said she voted in person on Tuesday because she lost track of time and didn’t request a mail-in ballot.