LANSING — Michigan avoided a repeat of the election chaos that threatened to unravel the 2020 results. All 83 counties certified the Nov. 8, 2024 election by the legal deadline Tuesday, according to state election officials.
The smooth certifications stand in sharp contrast to two years ago, when the state board and Wayne County came close to refusing to certify results over unfounded claims of irregularities. This year, no credible evidence emerged that would have swayed the outcome.
In Wayne County, the four-member canvassing board voted unanimously to certify Tuesday amid public pressure from voters to count their ballots. The county reported that between 92 percent and 100 percent of precinct results were successfully reconciled when vote counts did not match ePollbook records, according to a staff report.
Wayne County elections director Greg Mahar explained the mismatches could occur when voters spoiled ballots without leaving the precinct, or when voters received and cast ballots for different precincts.
A handful of individuals objected to certification based on claims of anomalies, demanding full forensic audits without credible evidence supporting irregularities that would affect the election outcome.
The final certification now rests with the Board of State Canvassers. Board chairman Tony Daunt, a Republican, has publicly indicated 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.
If the state board were to deadlock over election results certification, the issue would be pushed to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Michigan experienced the highest turnout in state history with more than 5.7 million voters casting ballots.
Benson added, Our state and county canvassing boards have all fulfilled their lawful duty to certify the results of Michigans 2024 General Election. I am grateful for the dedication of the professional, bipartisan clerks and poll workers who once again ensured that the election was safe, secure, and that the results accurately reflect the will of the voters.
This year may represent one of the final instances where canvassing boards hold such significant certification power. Michigan voters approved Proposal 2 in November, which will require those boards to certify election results based solely on vote counts by election officials.
The proposal also eliminates the state Legislature right to determine winners in cases of ties, replacing it with a drawing of lots. Under Proposal 2, the Board of State Canvassers will be the only entity to supervise post-certification recounts, with their certification serving as final unless a recount or court order changes the outcome.
Voters in November also approved changes to how ties are handled in races, eliminating the Legislature role and requiring a drawing of lots instead.
The certified results show President-elect Donald Trump winning Michigan with 49.7 percent of the vote compared to Vice President Kamala Harris 48.3 percent, according to the Secretary of State Office.
Bureau of Elections staff and county clerks will conduct post-election precinct-level audits to review election procedures and identify best practices for future elections. The Bureau along with several county and municipal clerks will also conduct a statewide public ballot audit where randomly selected batches of ballots will be hand-counted to affirm the accuracy of tabulation machines.