Boards of County Canvassers
We all want honest, transparent elections, and a voting system that works for everyone. Boards of County Canvassers are part of making sure every vote is counted, but their job is to double check math and ensure forms are filled out correctly, not investigate or question votes. Voters decide the election results — not canvassing boards.
About Boards of County Canvassers:
- Every one of Michigan’s 83 counties has a Board of County Canvassers made up of two Democrats and two Republicans.
- Local Democratic and Republican parties submit lists of candidates to the County Board of Commissioners, who appoint canvassers to serve staggered four-year terms.
- After an election it’s the Board of County Canvasser’s job to ensure paperwork from each county precinct and absentee voting counting board (AVCB) is filled out correctly.
- They double check math from each county precinct and AVCB to ensure that the vote totals are accurate, and tally results from the precincts and AVCBs to get totals for the county.
- They certify the results of elections for races and measures contained wholly within their county, making the results official within 14 days of the election.
What Boards of County Canvassers Do Not Do:
- Recount ballots.
- Investigate allegations of fraud or misconduct.
If Precincts Do Not Balance:
A precinct is “balanced” when the total number of ballots cast matches the number of voters recorded as voting. There are a number of innocent reasons precincts may not balance due to simple human error. If one or more precincts in a county are not balanced, it is not a reason for the board not to certify; they simply prepare a special report that is included with the final paperwork they submit to the Board of State Canvassers after certifying the election. Note: Even if a precinct is unbalanced, all the votes have been counted.
Paid for by Progress Michigan, 614 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933