Countyworks to ensure ‘safe’ election
It used to be that the word “safe” was only used with elections referring to an incumbent who didn’t have an opponent — they were deemed “safe.” But those days are long gone. The question of secure voting equipment, voter databases, and now during a pandemic, safe precincts, are all hot topics of conversation and cause of concern.
• Equipment — Conventions of people hacking old voting equipment have made the news as has remotely accessing tabulators. In 2017, each County Clerk had a choice of three vendors for new voting equipment. I chose Hart, the only vendor with a federally certified secure results transmission solution. Also, the equipment is programmed to only accept ballots we have printed for only that precinct in that municipality.
I should add that our voting equipment does not touch the internet and that Michigan law requires all voting equipment to be tested before and on Election Day. Recently, I worked with the county’s IT department to audit our elections division — our processes, our equipment, etc. and we received a glowing report for everything in our control.
When the State Bureau of Elections announced the ability to use multifactor authentication in using the qualified voter file, I was one of the first to sign up myself and staff in our Elections division. We started using it the first day it was available. This is important because voter databases are what were targeted by hackers in 2016.
• Information — People should be leery of social media posts, ads, mailers and rumors. When I held a drive thru voter registration drive, a woman came by and shared a mail piece she received. It did not have a “paid for by” disclosure but was targeted at voters of one of themajor parties. It stated multiple times to return your absentee ballot to your County Clerk.
While that is how elections are run in 46 of other states, it is not how elections are run in Michigan. Our elections are decentralized with some responsibilities falling on your city or township clerk, some on the County and some on the State Bureau of Elections (BOE). The mailer also stated that voting begins September 20. Also not true here in Michigan. Be sure you are getting information from a trusted source.
• Voting — I am proud to be part of VoteSafe, a cross-partisan coalition committed to the principle that voters should have accessible, secure mail-in ballots and safe, in-person voting sites.
Polls have shown a largemajority of voters prefer to vote absentee, which was evidenced in the primary. In Oakland County, over 70% of the electorate cast their ballot outside of the precinct.
For those who still vote in the precinct, many steps have been taken to keep workers and voters safe and healthy. The BOE has offered many times, to purchase PPE for precincts. Specifically, for each request a precinct will be sent 50 masks, 100 gloves, 5 face shields, and hand sanitizer. You can bring your own pen to complete your ballot, just make sure it is blue or black ink.
As I said, many are voting absentee and questioning the USPS. I encourage those who have a ballot drop box in their community to use it. (you can check Michigan.gov/Vote to find the location and a lot of helpful voting information) Remember, the ballot drop box must be in the community you live in. Don’t, for example, use a drop box where you work. While a recent court decision said that ballots postmarked by November 2 can be counted 14 days after the Election, court decisions can change. I recommend voters return their ballots as soon as possible to ensure it gets counted.
• Ballots — Finally, the law requires 100% ballots be ordered for November, meaning one ballot for every registered voter even though we have never had 100% turnout. To be safe, we ordered 110%, to allow for lost or spoiled ballots.
These are unusual times and unfortunately there are bad actors who want to disrupt our election. Don’t allow disinformation and misinformation to shake your confidence in our democratic process. If you hear or see something that doesn’t seem right, check with my office or your local clerk to either validate or invalidate it. Every election is important. I encourage all citizens to exercise your right to vote. Every vote counts.