It Starts at the County Level
The first official step in making election results final happens in each of Michigan’s 83 counties. By law, each county has a bipartisan Board of County Canvassers, composed of two Democrats and two Republicans. These boards are required to meet by 9 a.m. on the Thursday following the election to begin their work. Their job is not to recount ballots, but to meticulously review the paperwork from every precinct. They cross-reference the number of ballots cast with the number of voters recorded in poll books, check for clerical errors, and ensure all vote totals from precincts, early voting sites, and absentee ballot counting boards are accounted for correctly. This crucial review process is methodical and foundational to the integrity of the statewide
results.
The First Deadline: 14 Days
The county boards operate under a firm deadline. Michigan election law dictates that they must complete their canvass and certify their county's results no later than 14 days after the election. Throughout this two-week period, the canvassers work to resolve any discrepancies found in the precinct reports. Their duty is defined in state law as 'ministerial, clerical, and nondiscretionary,' meaning they are required to certify the results based on the official vote tallies provided to them. They don't have the authority to investigate allegations of fraud or change results based on anything other than the documented returns from the precincts. Once a county board certifies its results, it immediately sends the certified statements to the Michigan Secretary of State.
The Final Step: The Board of State Canvassers
Once all 83 counties have sent in their certified results, the process moves to the state level. The Board of State Canvassers, another bipartisan body with two Democrats and two Republicans, is responsible for the final statewide certification. This board canvasses the results for federal, statewide, and multi-county legislative offices. Their task is to review the totals certified by the counties, combine them, and formally determine the winner of each race. Much like their county counterparts, their role is to review and certify the results as they were tabulated and transmitted from the counties. This provides a final, unified layer of bipartisan verification for the entire state.
The Ultimate Deadline: Roughly Three Weeks
So, how long does it all take? The Board of State Canvassers must meet on or before the 20th day after the election. They must then complete their work and certify the statewide election results. If a county canvassing board fails to certify by its 14-day deadline, the state board is required to step in and complete that county's canvass, ensuring the process moves forward. Combining the 14-day county period with the subsequent state-level review means the entire process, from Election Day to final state certification, typically takes about three weeks. For the 2022 midterm election, for example, county canvassers had until November 22 to certify, and the Board of State Canvassers' deadline was November 28. This deliberate, multi-stage timeline is designed to prioritize accuracy and public trust over immediate, unofficial results.
