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Throughout my tenure as Michigan Secretary of State, and indeed long before, I have spoken repeatedly on the importance of post-election audits to ensure voters can trust the outcome of our elections as accurate and secure. (1/9) https://www.wkar.org/post/secretary-state-benson-lays-out-her-vision-elections-voting-michigan#stream/0
Throughout my tenure as Michigan Secretary of State, and indeed long before, I have spoken repeatedly on the importance of post-election audits to ensure voters can trust the outcome of our elections as accurate and secure. (1/9) https://www.wkar.org/post/secretary-state-benson-lays-out-her-vision-elections-voting-michigan#stream/0
I’m thrilled that we are on track to perform a statewide risk-limiting audit of November’s general election, which we’ve been building towards and planning for over the last 22 months, as well as local procedural audits of individual jurisdictions. (2/9) https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS/bulletins/2a6ac96
Earlier this year following the March presidential primary we conducted Michigan’s first statewide risk-limiting audit pilot. It demonstrated the results of our elections are accurate & provided an extra layer of security as we prepared for November. (3/9) https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-93094-531561--,00.html
The statewide risk limiting audit will be accompanied by the routine local procedural audits that will review the accuracy and process of elections in local communities, as was also carried out following the Nov 2019 election & the May 2020 election. https://mielections.csod.com/clientimg/mielections/MaterialSource/55dd5e37-396a-406c-b83f-380428507af8_May_2020_Audit.pdf (4/9)
In compliance with state law MCL168.31a we conduct these audits after the Board of State Canvassers certifies the election. This is because it is only after statewide certification that election officials have legal access to the documentation needed to conduct such audits. (5/9)
Importantly, while the Risk Limiting Audit is a proactive, voluntary, and planned action our office is taking to confirm the integrity of our elections and identify areas for future improvement, local procedural audits consider clerical errors identified during canvasses. (6/9)
This a typical, standard procedure following election certification, and one that will be carried out in Wayne County and any other local jurisdictions where the data shows any notable clerical errors following state certification of the November election. (7/9)
Notably audits are neither designed to address nor performed in response to false or mythical allegations of “irregularities” that have no basis in fact. Where evidence exists of actual fraud or wrongdoing, it should be submitted in writing to the Bureau of Elections. (8/9)
The Bureau of Elections then refers all credible allegations to @MIAttyGen for further investigation. (9/9)
