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The Michigan Board of State Canvassers meeting is scheduled to start at 1 pm. They'll take up what in the past has been the routine task of certifying statewide election results.
You can join 4,000 (and climbing) other people and watch the meeting live https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/23/will-michigan-certify-election-results/6388530002/
You can join 4,000 (and climbing) other people and watch the meeting live https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/23/will-michigan-certify-election-results/6388530002/
As many have noted, there are a litany of outcomes from this Board of State Canvassers meeting.
Essentially all of them end with President-elect Joe Biden receiving Michigan's 16 electoral votes.
More on the board and it's duties from @clarajanehen https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/11/22/michigan-board-state-canvassers-has-clear-obligation-certify-election-results/6362577002/
Essentially all of them end with President-elect Joe Biden receiving Michigan's 16 electoral votes.
More on the board and it's duties from @clarajanehen https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/11/22/michigan-board-state-canvassers-has-clear-obligation-certify-election-results/6362577002/
We've passed 10,000 people watching the livestream of the Board of Canvassers meeting. Clearly, lots of interest in the electoral process!
Meeting should start any minute. https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/23/will-michigan-certify-election-results/6388530002/
Meeting should start any minute. https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/23/will-michigan-certify-election-results/6388530002/
Alright, meeting is underway.
Board of State Canvassers are now considering the canvass. Jonathan Brater, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections, now speaking.
He says staff recommends the board should certify election. (Here's memo and mtg materials they submitted last week https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/11232020_Mtg_Notice__Materials_708509_7.pdf)
He says staff recommends the board should certify election. (Here's memo and mtg materials they submitted last week https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/11232020_Mtg_Notice__Materials_708509_7.pdf)
Brater: "Election workers have been on a marathon to ensure our elections can continue to run."
Brater: The bureau has not identified any irregularities this year that are outside of what generally happens during a regular election.
Brater: Any errors in reporting of unofficial results were quickly caught soon after they occurred or during the canvass process.
Brater: By any metric, the election in November was better run in Detroit than the primary election or the 2016 General Election.
Acknowledges some out-of-balance precincts, as is usual, and says continued improvement in Detroit is needed
Acknowledges some out-of-balance precincts, as is usual, and says continued improvement in Detroit is needed
AG attorney Heather Meingast (she's the attorney for the board): The constitution and the statute contemplate conducting audits post election.
"We don't have statewide results until this board certifies."
"We don't have statewide results until this board certifies."
Board member Julie Matuzak offers a motion to certify the state election results.
GOP member Aaron Van Langevelde says he's not saying he's for or against motion now, but wants to hear public comment first.
Matuzak says there can still be public comments as part of motion
GOP member Aaron Van Langevelde says he's not saying he's for or against motion now, but wants to hear public comment first.
Matuzak says there can still be public comments as part of motion
Van Langevelde: The board's duty today is very clear: we are here to certify the election.
Says "we owe it to the people" to allow them to speak.
This could telegraph the certification vote may pass once it's actually put to a vote.
Says "we owe it to the people" to allow them to speak.
This could telegraph the certification vote may pass once it's actually put to a vote.
Chris Thomas, a well-respected former state elections director under Republican and Democratic secretaries of state in Michigan, is going to speak during public comments. He helped out in Detroit's election this year, at the request of the Secretary of State.
Thomas involved with the planning of the general election, dealing with TCF operation, and several other issues with satellite sites, drop boxes.
"I've been impressed with the city of Detroit's turn that they've made since 2016 and since the August primary of this year."
"I've been impressed with the city of Detroit's turn that they've made since 2016 and since the August primary of this year."
Thomas: The desire to vote by mail, during a pandemic, was palpable in Detroit.
Says Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said high-speed tabulators were a lifesaver in assisting the city accumulate results in significantly less time than in the past
Says Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said high-speed tabulators were a lifesaver in assisting the city accumulate results in significantly less time than in the past
Thomas: "You have raised your voice, about not only Detroit and other jurisdictions...in terms of their processing of absentee ballots, back in 2016 and again in this primary."
"Is there work still to be done (in Detroit)? Yes."
"Is there work still to be done (in Detroit)? Yes."
Thomas: The fact of the matter is Detroit, like many other cities, "had a tsunami of mail ballots descend on it, and did the best that they could."
He heralds administration of a largely mail-in election, pivoting from general elections that were previously majority in-person
He heralds administration of a largely mail-in election, pivoting from general elections that were previously majority in-person
Roughly 26,000 people watching the livestream now. Board members have indicated this could be quite the lengthy meeting, given how many people would like to provide comment.
Not sure how many of those 26,000 will stick around to the end...
Not sure how many of those 26,000 will stick around to the end...
Norm Shinkle now speaking. He says he spoke with Thomas before the meeting.
Argues today that the election did not go smoothly, although it may have gone better than administration of the August primary election.
Argues today that the election did not go smoothly, although it may have gone better than administration of the August primary election.
Thomas, to Shinkle and the board: "You can't vote no. There is no no, in these circumstances."
"Each of you play a necessary role. You're at the pinnacle of Michigan's Democracy. You're the end game."
"Each of you play a necessary role. You're at the pinnacle of Michigan's Democracy. You're the end game."
Thomas: The remedy stage begins after you say yes: recounts, audits, investigations, they all happen after the vote.
"If you have the completed returns, I don't think you can adjourn."
"If you have the completed returns, I don't think you can adjourn."
Thomas: "I think you're mandated to certify when you have the completed results. There's no reason to sit on it for 40 days."
"What would you do for 40 days? You don't have authority to conduct an audit. What would you do?"
"What would you do for 40 days? You don't have authority to conduct an audit. What would you do?"
Shinkle is asking these questions because he's clearly entertaining the idea of voting against certification.
Board member Aaron Van Langevelde up next. Van Langevelde is an attorney and advisor for the state House Republican Caucus
Board member Aaron Van Langevelde up next. Van Langevelde is an attorney and advisor for the state House Republican Caucus
Van Langevelde: The law basically says we have a legal duty, or a clear legal duty, to canvass returns.
Are you aware of any legal authority out there that allows us to review more than county returns during that certification process?
Thomas: I am not.
Are you aware of any legal authority out there that allows us to review more than county returns during that certification process?
Thomas: I am not.
Van Langevelde: We don't have the authority to conduct a trial here to say whether or not election fraud occurred, correct?
Thomas: You are correct.
Thomas: You are correct.
Again, sounds like Van Langevelde outlining the authority and purpose of the Board of State Canvassers. Seems like he would want to do this to set up a vote in favor of certifying election results. We'll see when the vote happens later.
That's it for Thomas.
Next up is Daniel Baxter, former director of elections for Detroit. He ran operations at TCF Center this year.
That's where Detroit counted it's roughly 174,000 absentee ballots.
Next up is Daniel Baxter, former director of elections for Detroit. He ran operations at TCF Center this year.
That's where Detroit counted it's roughly 174,000 absentee ballots.
Baxter discussing his conversations with Clerk Winfrey about how the Detroit would approach absentee ballot tabulation for the November General Election.
Says city wanted to avoid primary election issues: staffing issues, or staff leaving without tabulating every ballot
Says city wanted to avoid primary election issues: staffing issues, or staff leaving without tabulating every ballot
Baxter discussing staff recruitment efforts by the city. Had more than 4,000 people apply to assist with absentee ballot tabulation.
Baxter: Training was more effective for the General Election. Supervisors trained 8-10 hours, "to make sure they understood every aspect of the operation."
They were trained alongside poll workers who would work with them on Election Day.
They were trained alongside poll workers who would work with them on Election Day.
