170199 MDOS 1005 Mini Steps Bklt PRF1.pdf

A guide to why elections are secure in Michigan.

Michigan Secure Election Experience

7-2024

This project includes contributions from township, city, and county clerks from around Michigan.

What makes MI elections secure?

The Michigan Secure Election Experience aims to explain how a combination of people, technology, and cross-checks keeps elections safe and secure in Michigan.

The State of Michigan uses a decentralized election system; many different people trained across the state utilize technology that has been built and tested with security in mind. In addition, a system of checks and balances throughout the entire election process ensures that mistakes are avoided, identified, or corrected.

All of this together — People, Technology, and Cross-Checks — make elections secure in Michigan.

In this pocket guide, you will learn the answers to commonly asked questions as well as the people, technology, and cross-checks involved in Michigan’s elections.

People Involved in Elections

Technology & Tools

Cross-Checks for SecurityCROSS

Why are MI elections secure?

1,604 Clerks

Journey of a Vote

Proof of Voter Eligibility

Ballot and Tabulator Programming

Logic and Accuracy Testing

Your Vote!

Early Voting

Absentee Voting

Voting on Election Day

Within this booklet, you will learn more about the people, technology & tools, and cross-checks involved in each step in the journey of a vote.

Early Voting

Absentee Voting

Voting on Election DayEarly Voting

Absentee Voting

4 5 6

Closing the Polls

Unofficial Election Results

Review and Certification of Official Results by Canvassers

Post-Election Audits10

People Involved in Elections

State Government Secretary of State

Michigan Bureau of Elections

Board of State Canvassers

County Government

Local Government

83 County Clerks

83 County Election Commissions

83 Boards of County Canvassers

281 City Clerks

1,240 Township Clerks

1,521 Election Commissions

Election Inspectors

Challengers & Poll Watchers

Your Vote

CROSS

Process of MI Election Security In Michigan, election security follows a multi-step process using a system of checks and balances to ensure integrity of the election results

Qualified Voter File (QVF) Michigan’s voter registration database is used to verify that an individual is registered and eligible to vote in the state

• Election Day electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks) – Election officials download lists of eligible voters from the QVF by precinct the night before or on Election Day

• Election Day e-pollbooks are not connected to tabulators, any other communication devices, or the internet during elections on Election Day

Election Management System (EMS) An EMS is the central computer that totals from all the tabulators are entered into

• Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) – A device that allows voters an alternate or accessible way to vote

• Tabulator – A precinct-based device that reads hand-marked or VAT-printed paper ballots, but is not connected to the internet

Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) A multi-state nonprofit that assists states in updating voting records, including information on registered voters who may have moved to other states and registered to vote

Cross-Checks for Security

STEP

PROOF OF VOTER ELIGIBILITY

People Involved in Elections

Michigan Voters To be eligible, a voter must:

• Be a Michigan resident (at the time they register) and a resident of their city or township for at least 30 days (when they vote). Voters who register less than 15 days before or on Election Day must submit proof of residency

• Be a United States citizen

• Be at least 18 years of age (when they vote)

• Not be currently serving a jail or prison sentence

• Provide driver’s license or state ID number, last 4 digits of Social Security number (SSN), or other documentation to verify ID

After registering to vote, a voter can check their status at any time through the state’s election website (Michigan.gov/sos/elections)

Local and County Clerks

• Verify voter eligibility

• Maintain and update a voter record in the Qualified Voter File (QVF) and mail a voter information (ID) card to confirm residency

What makes Michigan elections secure?

Qualified Voter File

• Clerks use the QVF only after completing training

• Multifactor authentication (MFA) is required to access the

QVF

• To ensure the accuracy of the QVF, the Secretary of State utilizes multiple data sources to check for voter changes, errors, moves, or deaths, including, but not limited to:

• Michigan driver’s license database to verify voter’s address

• Social Security and health/human services databases to ensure the person is alive

• Public records reviews

• Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to confirm that the voter isn’t registered to vote or voting in multiple states

• Undeliverable or returned election mail audits

• The State of Michigan hosts the QVF system and runs regular security and performance checks

PROOF OF VOTER ELIGIBILITY

CROSS

Absentee Voting Signatures of absentee voters are verified using the Qualified Voter File (QVF)

Early Voting Early Voting electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks) are created using the QVF for election inspectors to verify voters

Voting on Election Day Election Day e-pollbooks are created using the QVF for election inspectors to verify voters

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Proof of voter eligibility is cross-checked during the following steps:

Cross-Checks for Security

Questions & Answers

How do I register to vote?

In order to vote in Michigan, you must be a resident for at least 30 days before Election Day.

To register, you must have your driver’s license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN). You may register online at Michigan.gov/Vote, by mail using the state’s Voter Registration Application, or in person at a clerk’s office or satellite location. If you register to vote 14 days before Election Day or less, you must register in person at your local clerk’s office.

All forms of voter registration rely on signatures to ensure the identity of each voter. If you register online, you must authorize the state to use your stored digital signature that you used to obtain a driver’s license or other form of photo ID.

How does the state track voter registration?

After you register to vote, you will be added to the state’s voter registration database called the Qualified Voter File (QVF).

The QVF is regularly updated by cross-checking the state’s other databases, such as the Michigan driver’s license database, to ensure you are still eligible to vote in Michigan.

The QVF requires multifactor authentication (MFA) to access and is evaluated by the federal government for security.

BALLOT AND TABULATOR PROGRAMMING

People Involved in Elections

County Clerks

• Create the ballots

• Program tabulators to match ballots. May be programmed by qualified vendors under clerk supervision

• Send the draft version of the ballot to the Bureau of Elections for format approval

• Conduct initial ballot tests

• Ensure that only authorized personnel can log in to the election management system (EMS)

• Program EMS to accumulate precinct results

Candidates, County and Local Clerks, and County and Local Election Commissions

• Proof ballots to ensure proper spelling and content

Hardware and Equipment

• EMS computers are hardened, meaning they are stripped down and have no browsers or software other than a Windows operating system and EMS software

• Clerks transfer ballot coding from the EMS to the tabulator using encrypted removable media, (i.e., secure SD cards or USB) to ensure that the EMS is never connected to the internet

• Each precinct has a unique ballot style to enhance security

• The Election Assistance Commission certifies the EMS and all software updates

• The Board of State Canvassers tests and certifies all election equipment and software upgrades

• Multifactor authentication (MFA) (i.e., a password and/or an access code) is used to boot up and shut down all types of voting equipment

BALLOT AND TABULATOR PROGRAMMING

CROSS

Logic and Accuracy Testing Election management system (EMS) and tabulators are tested for election use; only passing systems are used to tabulate ballots

Absentee Voting Signatures of absentee voters are verified using the QVF

Early Voting Early Voting electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks) are created using the QVF for election inspectors to verify voters

Voting on Election Day Election Day e-pollbooks are created using the QVF for election inspectors to verify voters

Unofficial Election Results Results from tabulators are accumulated at the county level by the EMS based on ballot and tabulator programming

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Ballot and tabulator programming is cross-checked during the following steps:

Cross-Checks for Security

How are ballots created?

Ballots are created by county clerks and need to be submitted to the state’s Bureau of Elections for format approval.

Afterward, they are reviewed for accuracy by candidates, local clerks, and county and local election commissions.

Once the information on the ballots is verified, they are sent to county clerks who distribute them to local precincts before an election. Each precinct has a unique ballot style to enhance security.

LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING

People Involved in Elections

Local and County Clerks

• Verify county election programming by testing and validating the ballots and tabulators

• Document all processes to maintain strict chain of custody of equipment and records

• Clear public test tallies after testing

• Maintain proper chain of custody, including recording seals and serial numbers

• Conduct an accuracy test that follows official state processes at a publicly announced meeting at least 5 days prior to the start of early voting

Local and County Election Commissions

• Sign off on the logic and accuracy testing results by the start of early voting

Bipartisan Election Inspectors

• Print zero tape and ensure all candidate and proposals are correct

Voting Equipment

• Tabulators are publicly tested for logic and accuracy using test ballots before the election

• Voter assist terminals (VATs) are tested to ensure accuracy before the election

• Only passing VATs and tabulators that properly identify the series of correctly and incorrectly marked test ballots are used

• County clerks ensure the election management system (EMS) is offline (not connected to the internet)

Ballot on Demand

• Printed and hand-marked ballots are tested

Chain of Custody

• The encrypted removable media, EMS, and ballots are all secured with seals and kept in a secure location

LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Absentee Voting Absentee ballot results are generated on Election Day using logic and accuracy tested tabulators

Early Voting Early voting results are generated on Election Day using logic and accuracy tested tabulators

Voting on Election Day Ballots are tabulated on Election Day using logic and accuracy tested tabulators

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Logic and accuracy testing is cross-checked during the following steps:

How do I know I can trust the technology used to count my ballot?

The Election Assistance Commission certifies the election management system (EMS) and all software updates. The Board of State Canvassers tests and certifies all election equipment and software upgrades. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is used to boot up and shut down all types of voting equipment.

Tabulators are tested by counties to ensure their accuracy when tallying ballots and are not connected to any outside network when counting votes. Tabulators are also publicly tested for accuracy using test ballots before the election.

ABSENTEE VOTING

People Involved in Elections

Michigan Voters

• To receive an absentee ballot, a voter must sign and submit an application

Local Clerks

• Verify signatures against clerk records before a ballot is issued or before being placed on the permanent mail ballot list

• Authenticate the signature on an absentee ballot’s sealed envelope, confirm information, and secure ballots until tabulation

Bipartisan Election Inspectors

• Receive training and are sworn in

• Open envelopes to ensure the stub number on the returned ballot matches the number on the ballot issued to the voter

• Process and tabulate absentee ballots

Secure Location/Containers

• Approved clerk staff secure and empty absentee ballot drop boxes often

• New, outdoor absentee ballot drop box locations are under 24-hour video surveillance

• Received absentee ballots are kept in a secure location until they are delivered to the precinct or Absent Voter Counting Board (AVCB)

Qualified Voter File (QVF)

• The QVF is used to record the actions of the absentee ballot being issued and returned

Electronic Pollbooks (e-pollbooks)

• Absentee ballots are tracked in the QVF to the Early Voting e-pollbook and the Election Day e-pollbook to ensure that voters cannot vote more than once

Voting Equipment

• Absentee ballots are tabulated using tested and validated equipment

ABSENTEE VOTING

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Proof of Voter Eligibility The Qualified Voter File (QVF) is used to verify the voter’s registration status and signature

Logic and Accuracy Testing Tabulators and the election management system (EMS) are tested for election use. Only passing systems are used to tabulate ballots

Early Voting Early Voting e-pollbooks identify voters who cast absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person

Voting on Election Day Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Closing the Polls A bipartisan team of election inspectors closes the polls and a receiving board verifies balancing, certifying, and securing by adhering to standards

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Absentee voting is cross-checked during the following steps:

What are absentee ballots?

An absentee ballot can be requested from your local clerk’s office and submitted through the mail, at a secure drop box, or in person at either your local clerk’s office or an early voting site.

They are available beginning 40 days prior to every election. You must provide a signature on your application for an absentee ballot, and it must match the signature you provided when obtaining a photo ID.

Only you, an immediate family member, or someone residing in your household can return your absentee ballot. It is a felony for anyone else to return an absentee ballot on your behalf besides mail carriers during the course of their official duty and authorized election officials.

EARLY VOTING

People Involved in Elections

Election Officials

• Access the list of voters from the Early Voting electronic pollbook (e-pollbook) which has a secure, live connection to the Qualified Voter File (QVF)

• Backup reports for the Early Voting e-pollbook are created daily

Bipartisan Election Inspectors

• Take a sworn oath

• Look up voter’s registration record, verify the voter has not received an absentee ballot or already voted, then assign a ballot to the voter

• Continuously match and balance the number of ballots distributed (tracked in the Early Voting e-pollbook) to the number of votes cast (tracked on the tabulator) throughout the day

• Make remarks on paper or through the Early Voting e-pollbook to document the day’s voting activities

Challengers and Poll Watchers

Observe and ensure election procedures are properly conducted on-site during early voting

• The Early Voting e-pollbook has a secure, live connection to the Qualified Voter File (QVF), which is used by authorized election inspectors

• The QVF and the Early Voting e-pollbook are monitored and secured by the state

• Election inspectors securely log in to the Early Voting e-pollbook using unique usernames and passwords with multifactor authentication (MFA)

Ballot on Demand

• Election inspectors may print official ballots using approved

Ballot on Demand technology

• Reports and audit logs are verified daily by election inspectors

Voting Equipment

• Election officials and election inspectors are trained using standardized procedures

• Polls are suspended and voting equipment is stored securely after each day of early voting

State-Supplied Training Materials

• The Election Officials’ and Election Inspectors’ Procedure manuals are used to verify procedures throughout the day

EARLY VOTING

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Proof of Voter Eligibility The Qualified Voter File (QVF) is used to verify the voter’s registration status and signature

Ballot and Tabulator Programming Tabulators are programmed to read unique ballots in each precinct

Logic and Accuracy Testing Tabulators and the election management system (EMS) are tested for election use. Only passing systems are used to tabulate ballots

Absentee Voting Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Voting on Election Day Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Closing the Polls Early voting results are not generated until 8 PM on Election Day

Review and Certification of Official Results by Canvassers Review of vote tallies, chain-of-custody records, and process documentation Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Early voting is cross-checked during the following steps:

How can I vote early?

Early voting is a form of voting that allows eligible voters to cast a ballot during a time period before Election Day. Voters may cast an early ballot at a designated early voting site which operates the same as voting sites on Election Day.

Early voting sites are equipped with an Early Voting electronic pollbook (e-pollbook) which is connected to the Qualified Voter File (QVF) to get a list of eligible voters allowed to vote at a specific precinct. Early voting sites have a tabulator to count their votes, but results are not generated before Election Day.

The number of ballots issued, tracked in the Early Voting electronic pollbook (e-pollbook), is continuously checked against the number of ballots cast which is tracked in the tabulators in order to ensure that no one is voting more than once.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

People Involved in Elections

Local Clerks

• Download the list of voters from the Qualified Voter File (QVF) to the Election Day electronic pollbook (e-pollbook)

• Print the list of eligible voters as a backup to the Election Day e-pollbook

Bipartisan Election Inspectors

• Take a sworn oath

• Look up a voter’s registration record, confirm the voter has not received an absentee ballot or voted early, and then assign a ballot to the voter

• Continuously match and balance the number of ballots distributed (tracked in e-pollbook) to the number of ballots cast (tracked on the tabulator) throughout the day

• Make remarks on paper or through the Election Day e-pollbook to document the day’s voting activities

Challengers and Poll Watchers conducted on-site during the election

• The Election Day e-pollbook is created from the QVF and used offline by authorized election inspectors

• The QVF is monitored and secured by the state

• Trained and authorized election inspectors at the polling place operate the Election Day e-pollbook using unique usernames and passwords

• Bipartisan election inspectors ensure that the Election Day e-pollbook is not connected to the internet on Election Day

Voting Equipment

• Election officials and election inspectors are trained using certified procedures

State-Supplied Training Materials

• The Election Officials’ and Election Inspectors’ Procedure manuals are used to verify procedures throughout the day

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Proof of Voter Eligibility The Qualified Voter File (QVF) is used to verify the voter’s registration status and signature

Ballot and Tabulator Programming Tabulators are programmed to read unique ballots in each precinct

Logic and Accuracy Testing Tabulators and the election management system (EMS) are tested for election use. Only passing systems are used to tabulate ballots

Absentee Voting Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Early Voting Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Closing the Polls Early voting results are not generated until 8 PM on Election Day

Review and Certification of Official Results by Canvassers Review of vote tallies, chain-of-custody records, and process documentation

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited10

Voting on Election Day is cross-checked during the following steps:

How does the state prevent someone from voting more than once?

The state uses the Qualified Voter File (QVF) to track whether someone has voted. The QVF is connected to both the Election Day electronic pollbook (e-pollbook) and the Early Voting e-pollbook.

Every precinct has both e-pollbooks which contain a list of voters that are eligible to vote in that precinct. Once a voter has cast their ballot, it is recorded in the e-pollbook which then uploads the information to the QVF.

If a voter attempts to cast multiple ballots by voting absentee and also voting early or on Election Day, the e-pollbook will notify election officials, and the voter will be prevented from submitting more than one ballot.

CLOSING THE POLLS

People Involved in Elections

Bipartisan Election Inspectors

• Work together to balance, close, tally write-ins, and secure tabulators and ballots

• Place all ballots, results tapes, encrypted removable media, and other documentation in appropriately sealed containers or envelopes for delivery to the receiving board

• Share duties between political party affiliations to ensure that the process is fair to all

Bipartisan Local Receiving Board

A local receiving board is an independent board established to ensure the accountability of election precincts

• Takes a sworn oath

• Conducts final check of all materials

• Verifies all containers, ballots, encrypted removable media, etc. are appropriately sealed

• Verifies ballots issued versus votes cast are balanced

Challengers and Poll Watchers conducted on-site during the election

Tabulators

• Election inspectors must use a secure key or code to initiate the closing of the tabulator and to print the totals tapes from the tabulators prior to results being submitted

Pollbooks

• Undergo review and are signed by a bipartisan group of election inspectors

Chain of Custody

• Election inspectors sign the vote totals tape from each tabulator as part of the strict chain of custody during the closing of the tabulators

• Bipartisan election inspectors place ballots and any electronic media in secured, approved, sealed containers

• Statement of votes, tallied write-ins, and totals tapes are secured in 3 separate, sealed envelopes and directed to the county clerk, Board of County Canvassers, and local clerk

• Authorized election officials secure and store all voting equipment

CLOSING THE POLLS

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Logic and Accuracy Testing Tabulators and the election management system (EMS) are tested for election use. Only passing systems are used to tabulate ballots

Absentee Voting Records are validated to ensure a voter did not vote more than once

Early Voting Records are validated to ensure a voter did not vote more than once

Voting on Election Day Records are validated to ensure a voter did not vote more than once

Review and Certification of Official Results by Canvassers Review of vote tallies, chain-of-custody records, and process documentation

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Closing the polls procedures are cross-checked during the following steps:

How are ballots and other election materials secured after the polls close?

After the polls close on Election Day, there are a number of physical and digital election materials that hold important information, including ballots and printed result totals from tabulators (called totals tapes). These materials are secured by a team of bipartisan election inspectors at polling places, under the close watch of challengers and poll watchers.

Election inspectors are required to use a secure key or code to close the tabulators and to print the totals tapes. The totals tapes, along with the pollbooks, must be reviewed and signed by election inspectors. Voted and unvoted ballots are secured in tamper-evident, sealed containers. Copies of the totals tapes and ballot container seals are then sent to the precinct’s local clerk, county clerk, and Board of County Canvassers to be reviewed.

A local bipartisan receiving board is an independent board that was established to ensure the accountability of election precincts. They conduct the final check of all materials and verify that all election materials were appropriately sealed and the ballots issued and ballots cast match.

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS

People Involved in Elections

County Clerks or Designated Assistants A bipartisan team verifies the number of ballots balances with the number of votes cast as a check and balance

• Receives preliminary results from local clerk

• Validates the origin of tabulator media using documentation from the polling place and sealed containers prior to loading media onto election management system (EMS) equipment

• Accumulates unofficial results using certified EMS

• Verifies the reporting of all precincts

Election Management System

• The county uses best security practices when transferring results from encrypted removable media to the EMS

County Election Results

• Counties must report to the state’s website, which is secured via an SSL-certified .gov domain

• Counties may report to their county’s website, which should be secured via an SSL-certified .gov domain

State Election Results Website

• The State of Michigan safeguards, monitors, and conducts regular security and performance checks on the website

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Ballot and Tabulator Programming Programming created in Step 2 ensures accurate accumulation of results

Logic and Accuracy Testing Ballots and programming are tested to ensure that accurate results are returned to the election management system (EMS)

Absentee Voting Precinct electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks) identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Early Voting Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Voting on Election Day Precinct e-pollbooks identify voters who cast early or absentee ballots to prevent them from voting in person on Election Day

Closing the Polls Bipartisan election inspectors attest that all processes have been followed at the polling place and chain of custody is documented

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Unofficial election results are cross-checked during the following steps:

How are ballots counted?

Ballots are counted through machines called tabulators.

Tabulators print vote counts (called totals tapes) so there is always a paper record that can be reviewed if any reporting errors occur.

The information from the tabulators is fed into Michigan’s election management system (EMS). EMS computers are located at county clerks’ offices and are stripped of all software except a Windows operating system and EMS software. To enhance security, the EMS is not connected to the internet.

After accounting for all precincts, election officials provide unofficial results reports to bipartisan Boards of County Canvassers for further verification of each precinct’s totals tapes during the canvassing period.

REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION OF OFFICIAL

RESULTS BY CANVASSERS

People Involved in Elections

Boards of County Canvassers

• Composed of 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans

• Inspect and approve sealed containers used to secure ballots and election materials

• Review local election records and verify individual precinct results following each election

• Verify that the results in the county election management system (EMS) match the results printed by each tabulator and tabulator tapes are signed by all election inspectors who closed the polls

• Maintain records per retention protocol

• Oversee requested recounts of the local election

Board of State Canvassers

• Composed of 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans

• Resolves discrepancies and verifies the outcome of the election statewide

• Oversees requested recounts of state-level elections

• Canvass is subject to the Open Meetings Act, which allows the process to be open to the public

Protocols and Procedures

• Qualified Voter File (QVF), Early Voting electronic pollbook

(e-pollbook), and Election Day e-pollbook can be used to verify the list of participating voters

• Confirm and certify precinct level and overall election results using:

• Paper ballots

• Totals tapes

• Unofficial results

• Paper pollbooks

• Tallied write-ins

• Envelopes

REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION OF OFFICIAL

RESULTS BY CANVASSERS

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Absentee Voting Training and swearing in bipartisan election inspectors and verifying their adherence to appropriate procedures

Early Voting Training and swearing in bipartisan election inspectors and verifying their adherence to appropriate procedures

Voting on Election Day Training and swearing in bipartisan election inspectors and verifying their adherence to appropriate procedures

Closing the Polls Reviewing chain-of-custody protocol was followed including delivery of sealed containers

Unofficial Election Results Verifying the number of ballots issued with the number of votes cast as part of the strict chain of custody

Post-Election Audits The entire process is audited

Boards of canvassers review and certify that official results are cross-checked during the following steps:

What is the difference between unofficial and official election results?

Unofficial election results are the results typically broadcast on election night, however, there is a process to certify the election results that involves a careful review of all the election materials and can take some time.

Each county in Michigan has a Board of County Canvassers composed of two Democrats and two Republicans. They review local election records and county election results in the election management system (EMS) and match them to the printed totals tapes; and oversee any recounts that need to be conducted.

After the Boards of County Canvassers are finished, the Board of State Canvassers, also composed of two Democrats and two Republicans, reviews any discrepancies and verifies the outcome of the election statewide, making the election results official.

Meetings involving both the Boards of County Canvassers and Board of State Canvassers are open to the public.

POST-ELECTION AUDITS

People Involved in Elections

Michigan Bureau of Elections

• Randomly selects precincts to be audited by each county

• Conducts additional post-election audits (such as risk-limiting) and procedural audits to further verify security and results

County Clerks

• Clerk staff conduct audits of precincts randomly selected by the Bureau of Elections

• Review election materials to confirm proper procedures were followed and documented

Local Clerks

• Participate in the audit of their processes and procedures

Procedural Audits

• A check of more than 70 key points in the election process, including:

• Election notices

• Logic and accuracy testing

• Election equipment and physical storage

• Paperwork assessments

• Review of pre-election, election, and post-election procedures to ensure jurisdictions are meeting requirements

• Hand count of all votes cast in the precinct for a specified race to confirm against official results

• Clerks retain all necessary election materials for the security retention period

Risk-Limiting Audits (Ballot Audits)

• Draw and hand-tally a random sample of ballots to affirm the accuracy of vote-counting machines

Additional Audits

• Work with local and county election officials to resolve discrepancies by reviewing all related documents and election materials

POST-ELECTION AUDITS

CROSS Cross-Checks for Security

Post-election audits are important for the transparency of elections, and for clerks to review current practices and identify opportunities for future improvement.

The State of Michigan conducts several types of post-election audits to:

• Confirm strict chain-of-custody protocol was followed throughout the post-election audit process

• Utilize discrepancies and deficiencies found during the audits as future training points for local clerks

• Conduct audits of all steps after the election

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If it were to occur, how does the government identify fraud?

Each election is audited by elected officials and the state Bureau of Elections. Procedural audits ensure that procedures were followed, documented, and that proper chain of custody was maintained. Risk-limiting audits hand count randomly selected precincts to ensure that votes were tabulated correctly.

There are criminal consequences for both election officials and voters who defraud the election process.

Read more about elections in Michigan.

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7-2024