Press Statement: An Audit has Already Verified that the November 2020 Election Was Secure and Accurate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Promote the Vote

June 18, 2021

An Audit has Already Verified that the November 2020 Election Was Secure and Accurate

MICHIGAN – In response to activists demand for an audit of the November 2020 election, Sharon Dolente, senior policy advisor for Promote the Vote released the following statement:

“In 2018, Michigan voters adopted Proposal 3 which required an audit of statewide election results to ensure their accuracy and integrity[1]. We know that the November 2020 election was secure and accurate because Michigan’s state and local officials have already completed more than 250 audits of the election, including the constitutionally mandated audit.

“The demand for another audit of the November 2020 election has no basis in law and would only serve to waste the state’s resources. It’s time to move forward and continue the work that was started with the passage of Proposal 3 to ensure Michigan has a voting system that works for all of us.”

A full report on the audits conducted in Michigan can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/BOE_2020_Post_Election_Audit_Report_04_21_21_723005_7.pdf.

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[1] In the lame duck legislative session of 2018, the Republican controlled Michigan Legislature “prescribed by law” and former Republican Governor Rick Snyder signed into law, Public Act 603 of 2018, which provides how the audit will be conducted.  As amended, MCL 168.31a(2) now provides:

“The secretary of state shall prescribe the procedures for election audits that include reviewing the documents, ballots, and procedures used during an election as required in section 4 of article II of the state constitution of 1963. The secretary of state and county clerks shall conduct election audits, including statewide election audits, as set forth in the prescribed procedures. The secretary of state shall train and certify county clerks and their staffs for the purpose of conducting election audits of precincts randomly selected by the secretary of state in their counties. An election audit must include an audit of the results of at least 1 race in each precinct selected for an audit. A statewide election audit must include an audit of the results of at least 1 statewide race or statewide ballot question in a precinct selected for an audit. An audit conducted under this section is not a recount and does not change any certified election results. The secretary of state shall supervise each county clerk in the performance of election audits conducted under this section.”