Statewide Unanimity Sets Stage for Election Finalization
LANSING — All 83 Michigan counties certified the Nov. 8 election results by Tuesday's deadline, establishing the legal foundation for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democratic officials to officially claim victory in the coming weeks.
The smooth certifications stand in sharp contrast to 2020, when several Republican canvassing boards refused to certify results over unfounded election conspiracy claims.
The bipartisan Board of State Canvassers must now certify the statewide results by Nov. 28 under state law before election wins become official for Gov. Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Attorney General Dana Nessel and others.
Wayne County Board Votes Unanimously
In Wayne County, the four-member canvassing board voted unanimously Tuesday to certify the election amid chants of Count my vote and audience members urging them to certify.
In total, 92 percent to 100 percent of precinct election results in Wayne County were reconciled or explained when a mismatch occurred between the number of votes cast and the number of voters in the ePollbook, according to a staff report.
The mismatch could be because voters spoiled their ballot and left the precinct without actually voting, or because they received and cast a ballot for another precinct and their vote was counted in that different precinct, Wayne County elections director Greg Mahar said Tuesday.
A handful of others objected to the certification based on claims of anomalies, even though there was no credible evidence of irregularities that would have swayed the election outcome. Some demanded a full forensic audit — a term widely used by supporters of former President Donald Trump who believed without credible evidence the 2020 election was stolen.
Technical Errors Were Fixed Before Election Day
This year, few technical errors were reported statewide, and they were fixed before they could affect voters ability to cast ballots, Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Jake Rollow told reporters on Election Day.
The Board of State Canvassers certification process remains a potential sticking point for those who challenge election results. Tony Daunt, a Republican member who chairs the board, has indicated this year he plans to certify the election.
This is a very ministerial duty, Daunt said last month. I was never a good math student, but I think I can handle the addition of 83 counties and determining that these are the results.
Proposal 2 Will Change Certification Process
If the state board deadlocks over election results certification, the issue would be pushed to the Michigan Supreme Court.
This year may be one of the last when the canvassing boards have as much power.
Voters in November approved Proposal 2, which will require those boards to only certify election results based on vote counts by election officials.
The proposal also eliminates the state Legislature right to determine winners of races in cases of ties, instead requiring a drawing of lots.
Under Proposal 2, the Board of State Canvassers will be the only entity to supervise a post-certification recount, and the board certification will be final unless a recount or a court order changes the outcome.
The final certification remains up to the Board of State Canvassers.