At a press conference held by the nonpartisan Michigan Election Protection Program (EPP) today, voting rights advocates shared plans they have put in place to protect Michigan elections before and after votes are cast November 3. Specifically, they detailed how hundreds of election officials, volunteers, and legal professionals have been working for the past 18 months to ensure voters’ rights are protected and Boards of County Canvassers follow the law and certify election results.
“While we have our work cut out for us this election season, I can say with complete confidence, we have never been more prepared,” said Jessica Ayoub, ACLU of Michigan deputy political director, and co-leader of the EPP, which is made up of more than 100 voting advocacy organizations. “We have gamed out dozens of potential election-threat scenarios and rapid response strategies that we can deploy as needed to ensure that voters can cast their ballots free of intimidation, that our elections are protected, and our democracy remains intact.”
With nine days of early in-person voting set to begin statewide on Saturday, Oct. 24, voting rights advocates assured voters that they can trust Michigan elections and their local clerks who, along with their staff, and poll workers recruited from local communities, oversee the process.
“They ensure our elections are fair, secure, and have accurate results,” added Ayoub.
Voting rights advocates also detailed election protection protocols put in place following the 2020 election when election denialists began making false claims about election integrity across the country, including many Michigan jurisdictions.
“Detroit became central to the false narrative that many election deniers were pedaling to undermine our elections for political gain,” said Chris Thomas, who served as Michigan’s Elections Director for 36 years, and has been an advisor to the Detroit City Clerk since 2020. “As a result of what ensued in 2020, we have added security measures to deter any disruptions to the counting of mail ballots. Our focus is on?maintaining our reputation as the gold standard when it comes to tabulating absentee ballots.”
Also, following the 2020 election, the League of Women Voters of Michigan started its Nonpartisan Canvass Observer Program.
“The League launched the program to educate our communities about what the certification process is and how it works, as well as to build trust in our election system and security,” said Sarah Warner, League of Women Voters of Michigan Project Manager. “We view ourselves as the bridge between the public and the election certification process. Our observers serve as the eyes and ears, providing transparency for the public as their votes are certified.”
The League trains observers to not interfere, challenge, or participate in the canvass, explained Warner.
For many folks, volunteering as a nonpartisan canvass observer is an attractive program because they can learn more about the democratic process and how many security protocols exist to protect our votes,” added Warner. “We often hear from our volunteers that they didn’t realize how many checks and balances there truly are to the election process. It’s proof of the strength of our election system.”
“While we have our work cut out for us this election season, I can say with complete confidence, we have never been more prepared,” said Jessica Ayoub, ACLU of Michigan deputy political director, and co-leader of the EPP, which is made up of more than 100 voting advocacy organizations. “We have gamed out dozens of potential election-threat scenarios and rapid response strategies that we can deploy as needed to ensure that voters can cast their ballots free of intimidation, that our elections are protected, and our democracy remains intact.”
With nine days of early in-person voting set to begin statewide on Saturday, Oct. 24, voting rights advocates assured voters that they can trust Michigan elections and their local clerks who, along with their staff, and poll workers recruited from local communities, oversee the process.
“They ensure our elections are fair, secure, and have accurate results,” added Ayoub.
Voting rights advocates also detailed election protection protocols put in place following the 2020 election when election denialists began making false claims about election integrity across the country, including many Michigan jurisdictions.
“Detroit became central to the false narrative that many election deniers were pedaling to undermine our elections for political gain,” said Chris Thomas, who served as Michigan’s Elections Director for 36 years, and has been an advisor to the Detroit City Clerk since 2020. “As a result of what ensued in 2020, we have added security measures to deter any disruptions to the counting of mail ballots. Our focus is on?maintaining our reputation as the gold standard when it comes to tabulating absentee ballots.”
Also, following the 2020 election, the League of Women Voters of Michigan started its Nonpartisan Canvass Observer Program.
“The League launched the program to educate our communities about what the certification process is and how it works, as well as to build trust in our election system and security,” said Sarah Warner, League of Women Voters of Michigan Project Manager. “We view ourselves as the bridge between the public and the election certification process. Our observers serve as the eyes and ears, providing transparency for the public as their votes are certified.”
The League trains observers to not interfere, challenge, or participate in the canvass, explained Warner.
For many folks, volunteering as a nonpartisan canvass observer is an attractive program because they can learn more about the democratic process and how many security protocols exist to protect our votes,” added Warner. “We often hear from our volunteers that they didn’t realize how many checks and balances there truly are to the election process. It’s proof of the strength of our election system.”
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