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 Know
your election officials
By
Secretary of State Candice S. Miller
Making sense of
Michigan’s election system can be a daunting prospect, but it isn’t
difficult once you have a basic understanding of the people who make it
work.
Michigan’s election
system is a complex, highly decentralized system made up of 83 counties,
273 cities, 1,242 townships, 262 villages and more than 500 school
districts.
The secretary of state
serves as Michigan’s chief election officer, with the Bureau of
Elections acting on the secretary’s behalf. The bureau is responsible
for the integrity of an election by ensuring election laws are followed,
training and advising 2,300 local clerks, compiling official election
results and providing instructional materials.
Next are the county
election officials. Counties support the election process in a number of
ways. Each county has a County Elections Commission, with a chief judge
of probate of the county or probate court district, the county clerk and
county treasurer. The commission provides election supplies, including
ballots for federal, state and county elections.
Counties receive and
certify petitions for countywide offices and ballot proposals. The
county also accepts campaign finance reports from local candidates and
trains precinct inspectors.
The conduct of local
elections and operation of polling place is handled at the city,
township or school district level, depending on the nature of the
election. A City or Township Election Commission determines precincts,
assesses voting equipment needs, provides voting supplies and ballots
for local elections. The commission is also responsible for appointing
precinct inspectors.
Precinct inspectors are the
workers who manage the polls on election day. They enter voters’ names
in the poll book, assist with questions, distribute and collect ballots,
make sure proper voting procedures are followed and help maintain the
integrity of the election's process.
After you have voted in an
election, the results are reviewed by the appropriate Board of
Canvassers in each city, township and county. The canvassers certify
election results from the jurisdiction they serve in.
Similarly, a four-member
Board of State Canvassers certifies the results of all statewide
offices, district offices that cross county lines and statewide ballot
proposals. Once all the canvassers have met, the results are considered
final.
Each Board of Canvassers
consists of two Republicans and two Democrats.
Voting is an important
civic duty, forming the very heart of our democratic system. Gaining a
better understanding of how the system works makes you a better-informed
voter and citizen. Voting gives you the power to change your community,
state and country for the better. Please remember to vote this year!
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