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Rep. Calley: New law allows communities to more efficiently count absentee ballots
RELEASE|June 24, 2020

Governor signs Calley’s plan to help clerks process influx of mail-in ballots

State Rep. Julie Calley’s plan giving local communities a new option to streamline the processing of absentee ballots has been signed into law.


Calley, of Portland, said city and township clerks throughout Michigan are expecting a significant increase in the number of absentee ballots they receive following the addition of no-reason absentee voting, which was included in the reforms approved by voters through Proposal 3 of 2018, as well as coronavirus concerns. As a result, many clerks are concerned local election workers will not be able to process absent voter ballots in a timely manner.


“We’re working on several reforms to help our local clerks address the increase in absentee ballots while still maintaining the integrity of our elections,” said Calley, who chairs the House Elections and Ethics Committee. “This plan gives communities a new option to streamline the process.”


Absentee ballots can be processed in one of two ways – at each precinct or in an absent voter counting board. When they are processed in the precinct, election workers typically feed absentee ballots into the voting machines during lulls or after polls close. By contrast, AV counting boards focus solely on processing absentee ballots all day long.


While AV counting boards were previously allowed, communities were only allowed to complete the process on their own. The new law spearheaded by Calley allows local governments to team up with other nearby communities or the county to establish an AV counting board.


“This will give small communities – which may not have the workers or equipment needed to have their own AV counting board – the opportunity to pool their resources with a local jurisdiction, if they so choose,” Calley said.


Calley noted that workers on AV counting boards must be properly trained and are required to sign an oath not to reveal vote tallies until after polls close. Additionally, counting boards must have election inspectors representing both parties, just as polling places do.


House Bill 5141 is now Public Act 95 of 2020.

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