Post Election Processes
On Tuesday, May 5, Michiganders across the state cast their ballots to make their voices and values heard in local and special elections.
There is a lot of important work done outside of voting that goes into executing and certifying our elections — both before and after ballots are cast. While it is often misunderstood, one of the most crucial pieces 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 that the tallies and procedures are done correctly.
The Boards of Canvassers have limited authority that is carefully defined by the law. To be clear: Boards of Canvassers CANNOT alter or reject election outcomes. Their duty is not to second-guess or change the results, but to uphold the will of the voters. 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 county’s 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 election 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 conspiracy theories 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.
Michigan’s elections are secure and accurate. Paper ballots provide a reliable record of every vote. Voting machines are tested before and after each election. Bipartisan teams manage every step, from ballot handling to tabulation to certification. Clerks, election workers, and canvassers do their part to ensure the accuracy of our elections, so we must do our part to ensure their safety. 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 help defend our democracy? Contact voterservice@lwvmi.org to learn how you can serve as an observer for the Board of Canvassers. The Observation Program will begin immediately after the August 4 Primary Election and resume again after the November 3 General Election.
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Judy Florian, Vice President for Voter Service — LWVMI
