Michigan’s Boards of Canvassers: Verifying Accuracy, Not Deciding Outcomes

On Tuesday, November 4, Michiganders across the state will cast their ballots to make their voices and values heard in municipal elections.

But there is a lot of work outside of voting that goes into our elections. While it is often misunderstood, one of the most important parts of the democratic process is the certification of election results. In Michigan, the Board of Canvassers is tasked with handling this.

Each of Michigan’s 83 counties has a bipartisan, four-member Board of Canvassers made up of two Republicans and two Democrats — both of which are appointed by their party. Their job is to verify that election procedures were properly followed and votes were accurately counted. After each election, these boards review the work of local clerks by checking the number of votes and ballots, and confirming the tallies and procedures are done correctly.

The Boards of Canvassers have limited authority that is carefully defined by the law. Contrary to popular belief, Boards of Canvassers CANNOT alter or reject election outcomes. Their duty is not to second-guess or change the results. Voters decide elections, not canvassing boards or political parties.

If any discrepancies arise, the Boards of Canvassers work with clerks to resolve them, often by reviewing precinct records or recounting specific ballots. When all issues are resolved, the Board of Canvassers certifies the official results. The State Board of Canvassers then reviews county certifications to confirm the statewide totals.

This process is meticulous, transparent, and bipartisan. It ensures every valid vote is counted and results reflect the will of the voters. Canvassers are not allowed to delay or reject certification because of political concerns or outside pressure. When canvassers certify results, they are not choosing winners and losers; they are confirming what the voters have already decided. Michigan law is clear: Boards of Canvassers must certify results that accurately reflect the votes cast.

The 2020 and 2022 elections demonstrated the strength of this process. Despite misinformation and public pressure, Michigan’s canvassing system worked as intended. Every audit and recount confirmed the accuracy of the votes counted. Courts upheld the results, and bipartisan boards fulfilled their legal duty.

It is important that Michigan’s elections are safe and secure. Paper ballots provide a reliable record of every vote. Voting machines are tested before and after each election, and bipartisan teams manage every step, from ballot handling to tabulation to certification. We must do our part to ensure safety for clerks, election workers, and canvassers. Election workers deserve to perform their duties without threats or harassment, and protecting them protects our democracy.

The strength of Michigan’s elections relies on trust: trust in the voters, trust in the clerks, and trust in the canvassers.

The League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI) is dedicated to making sure every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate in our democracy. LWVMI engages and trains observers to monitor the post-election canvassing process. This is nonpartisan, volunteer observation work to ensure transparency and accountability between Boards of Canvassers and voters.

Want to get involved in defending our democracy? Reach out to voterservice@lwvmi.org to learn how you can be an observer for the Board of Canvassers.

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Judy Florian, Vice President for Voter Service — LWVMI