Written by Tanya Terry
It’s the day before Election Day, and for some who still haven’t voted, know someone who hasn’t voted or have voted and don’t know whether their vote will be counted, tensions may be rising.
By Halloween Day Oct. 31, at least 2.7 million ballots had been returned statewide and 3.3 million had been requested; about an 80% return rate. There have been over 21,500 requests for ballots and over 16,400 received in the city of Flint alone.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson talked to the Flint Courier News prior to the November 2020 elections and assured that with the judge blocking the ban on open carry of guns statewide at polling places on Election Day, her office is doing everything in their power to keep voters safe at the polls.
Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray granted a preliminary injunction to pro-gun groups who filed motions to block the directive issued by Benson.
“Of course, that particular opinion is in the middle of litigation and on appeal, but notably, even the court recognized that anyone who intimidates a voter in Michigan by brandishing a firearm is committing a felony under existing law,” she said. “That law is enforceable by our executive branch as well as local law enforcement.”
Voter intimidation is illegal both under state and federal law.
“We’re going to continue to do everything in my authority to protect and ensure the safety of every voter and the sanctity of polling places,” Benson said.
Data suggests historically and in modern times there’s a significant of targeting underrepresented communities; communities of color, with voter suppression tactics like voter intimidation.
“Any voter intimidation anywhere in any community is unacceptable, and we’ll prioritize, as my administration already has, protecting every voter in the state.”
Election challengers may be appointed by political parties and qualified interest groups
to observe the election process, according to michigan.gov. A person who wishes to observe but is not a qualified election challenger is commonly called a poll watcher.
Poll watchers and challengers have very strict stipulations, per Michigan election law, for how they can operate, chief among them being that they cannot speak to voters directly.
“If someone is a challenger they would speak to an election inspector if they had a concern-never a voter. There is no circumstance in which a challenger or watcher should approach a voter directly, and if they do that would absolutely be a case of attempted voter intimidation and should be reported. But a watcher or challenger who is present and observing proper protocols would not be considered intimidation.”
Secure protocols are in place to ensure that every vote is validated when it comes in, according to Benson. Votes are counted through high speed ballot tabulators. Benson said citizens can rest assured that the ultimate results will be an accurate reflection of the will of the people.
Benson said anyone with an absentee ballot should sign the envelope and either hand deliver it to their city or township clerk’s office or take it to their local drop box by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Benson has been in consistent communication with local post office leadership, who assured her office they are continuing to move mail through their system as efficiently as possible. Still, delivery has been slowed. Mail delivery was particularly slow along the I-75 corridor.
“That’s why we’ve encouraged voters to both pick up ballots in person and return them to their local drop box if they can to ensure by all means that their ballots have arrived by November 3 and that no one is disenfranchised through no fault of their own.”
The two main reasons a ballot that would otherwise be valid is not counted is because either a signature is missing or it doesn’t match on the ballot with the voter file, in which case clerks are required under law to follow up with the voter in any way possible in order to cure the ballot, making sure it’s validated and counted.
In some other states, if a ballot is sent prior to Election Day but received after Election Day it can still count. For example, Nevada counts mail-in ballots until Nov. 10 as long as all ballots are postmarked by Election Day. Under Ohio state law, absentee ballots postmarked by the day before Election Day will be counted as long as they arrive by Nov. 13.
“That’s not clear under our law here in Michigan. So, that’s why we want every voter to have their ballot in by 8 p.m. on Election Day.”
After this election, Benson’s office will be sitting down with clerks and people across the state to identify all the changes to the law that need to be made prior to the next round of elections.
“We hope that our legislature will be cooperative and recognize the need to continue to modernize our system of laws surrounding our elections to ensure that every vote counts.”
Benson’s office has partnered with sports teams, local businesses and employers, universities all across the state to recruit over 30,000 poll workers. Benson said this is one of the ways they have been able to ensure that every polling place is open and fully staffed on Election Day.
“After the election, just like we do after every election, we’ll explore what worked and what didn’t and continue to make improvements. Every election we have is an opportunity to do things even better. But, I feel quite confident that we’re in the best position possible for this Tuesday’s election to ensure that every vote counts and that every voice is heard.”
For questions about the voting process, go to Michigan.gov/vote.
