Inside Michigan Elections: Early Voting, Absentee Ballots & Election Security Explained

What's really happening in Michigan elections, and what's changed in recent years? In this episode of Keepers of the Republic, hosts Ari Mittleman and Kamryn Hoadley sit down with Lynn Henry, Deputy Clerk and Elections Director for Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. From implementing early voting to managing a surge in absentee ballots, Lynn shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run secure, transparent elections in a rapidly evolving system.

They break down major changes to Michigan election law, how election equipment is selected and audited, and the real challenges local clerks face—from voter questions to long hours in the lead-up to Election Day. Whether you're a voter, student, or simply curious about how elections work, this conversation offers a practical, nonpartisan look at the people and processes that keep our democracy running.

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Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy. Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world. Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

Our Republic is a non-partisan nonprofit organization. Spring of 2020. Our republic. We do it through hyperlocalized civic education. We talk with Americans at all, legal seminars, media briefings, and other events. We know a lot of Americans have a lot of questions about how our elections work, what safeguards are in place, and who actually is working behind the scenes on election night as the votes are being tabulated. And that's why we're really glad you're joining us today. Hopefully, we can answer some of those questions. Lynn Henry, thanks so much for joining us and more so joining our uh our audience.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Thank you for the invite. I look forward to this today.

SPEAKER_02 0:47

Well, tell folks a little about uh Genesee County and your township uh in particular.

SPEAKER_01 0:53

So in I am the deputy clerk for Grambling Township. I've been here for uh almost eight years, and we happen to be the second largest jurisdiction in Genesee County. Um I currently run day-to-day operations for Grambling Township, and I am the elections director as well. Um I am the president of the Genesee County Governmental Clerks Um Association. So I am the one that will help bring in um all the different changes in constitutional amendments, election law, um, do bring them up to date, keep them informed of what is going on across the state, what we changes we uh see coming. So this I just started my third term as president, um, which I really enjoyed. And I'm also had been a part of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks uh for the last four years. So we happen to be one of the larger jurisdictions, like I said, in Genesee County. So we do handle a lot of the trainings here. They come uh to Grand Blank Township, and we are hands-on, always available to help with our county because our county clerk is fairly new as well, and his team have been learning. So in 24, I helped them uh train all the election uh inspectors across uh Genesee County as they were learning the job as well.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

Okay, a lot of great stuff to unpackage there. We'll get to the distinction between uh the local clerks and the county clerk and changes that have happened uh in recent years in Michigan. Um I feel like often when I have conversations with folks from Michigan, they put up their hand, they refer to the the midden. Uh we not, you know, we don't need to do that, but maybe give uh non-Michiganders a sense of where Genesee County uh is.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

We are located near Flint, to be honest. Um so everyone knows where Flint is, our water crisis, um, different things that have happened, Flint is growing. So we are right, we run into the city of Flint once you turn out of our office. So we're essentially located in the state of Michigan, um, more so to the east.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

So Flint certainly is not, but is the rest of the county rural, suburban? Give an uh audience uh the sense of of your voters and your concerns?

SPEAKER_01 3:16

We have a little bit of everything. So there are 28 townships in cities in Genesee County and two villages. So we kind of range. We do have rural, we have um some nice small cities that are compact. The city of Fenton has so much to offer. Um, City of Linden is growing as well, and then we have some townships that are pretty rural farming across for us. We are a large township with some new development at the south end of our town. Uh, so we have some manufacturing, we have restaurants, stores. Um, so we have a lot of IFTs, tax abatements here in uh Grand Blank Township. But there is a little bit of everything in Genesee County.

SPEAKER_00 4:01

So Grand Blank is actually where I grew up. So I got to experience a lot of the wonderful things that your township offers. And I was lucky enough to actually work or see how you kicked off early voting in the state. That was something really incredible that you volunteered to do that for the county. How did that first election go doing early voting?

SPEAKER_01 4:33

So actually, it worked out um great for us. We got to do it in November of 23. We are one of the communities, I believe there was there was only a handful of us um implementing 90 early voting as a trial period. And I actually had reached out to state and asked if we could be one of the jurisdictions to be a trial. And they said absolutely. And it gave us a preparation going into presidential primary, the general, and um the presidential primary also in February. And the turnout wasn't what we had hoped, but just getting an opportunity to for different communities across the state to come in to see how it was operated. People, uh, you know, different clerks across the state of Michigan came in, people from the Bureau of Elections came to our office, and just getting to run that uh process. And then every morning, uh the panel we had a meeting with um the elections director for the state of Michigan, Jonathan Brader, Lori Burmine. And so we kind of would meet and say, Hey, this is happening to us, is that happening to you? Also at that time, uh the qualified voter file um ended up being a live um format, which has always been against because of computer hacking, whatnot, right? So that made it real time. So if we were scanning ballots in here in our office, it already went to nine-day early voting. So someone could not vote twice whatsoever. And so that was a whole new trying to learn a qualified voter file, what it looked like versus our electronic poll book on election day. But everyone that has worked nine-day early voting since then absolutely loves um election day, well, nine-day early voting um poll book because it's so much easier to use than the election day poll book. And that is something that the state of Michigan is hopefully um can make happen within the next few years. Um, some changes have to be made in election law and everything for that to happen. Uh, some jurisdictions being rural do not have the capability like for um internet, Wi-Fi internet, how you have to be connected. So it's gonna affect some rural areas, especially far northern Michigan, um, up above in the UP, because they run on a different basis than most of us, you know, down here, Oakland County, um the larger jurisdictions down in uh McComb County. So there's some things that they have to work out that will um take a little bit of time. But just being a part of the process, being able to teach it, what we learned, what was working, what wasn't working, um, being on the process of building that electronic, um, the poll book, the precinct kit, it's just it's a different um magnitude of work, extra work on all the clerks across the state of Michigan doing nine-day early voting. The minimum requirement for the ones that don't know, we have to do it in the state of Michigan now, a minimum of nine days, but we can do it up to 30 days now. But that's up to your jurisdiction. It's not um mandatory, but mandatory is nine days. But just being a part of it and then being able to teach everyone in Genesee County how to run it, going into uh 24 and being able to be that pilot program. Um, I we really enjoyed it and loved being out there up front, be the first ones to do it for sure.

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Thanks very much for going uh in depth. Um, and as you alluded to, there were there there were other changes uh that have happened in recent years. So maybe you can give top line on those. And then also for non-Michigan audience members, just give a sense of the genesis of why there were so many changes in the process to make these changes.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

So over the last several years, um, I've seen a lot of changes, been doing this for like 14 years, is that 2018, Prop 18-3, uh, that changed absentee voting, and that changed um anyone could vote absentee. And so going into 2020, we ran into the biggest election because of COVID, and then anyone could vote absentee. Grambling Township of May of 2020 was one of very few that have ever had an all-mail election for a special election. We had a school election, they did not um back down, they wanted it. So for a school election that time, because everybody was home during COVID, um, we issued over 10,000 ballots for a school election, which is unheard of because normally people don't vote so much. So we are used to issuing 2,300 ballots. Um, so it was a huge increase. Uh, we did everything by A V. We had to go down to the school, had a ton of uh precincts set up, A V accounting boards is what they're called here in the state of Michigan, and um having an all-mail election was totally different. So then going into 2020 November, the increase of absentee ballots just exploded, I guess I should say. In 2022, it did not go down at all. And then that also changed Prop 22-2 was nine-day early voting, um, perm ballot list. So for us, we went from uh during 2020, we had like a list of 3,500 on our permanent list for a ballot application all the way up to 10 over 10,000 in 22 perm ballot change. So every election here for us in Grand Blanc Township, just to get an understanding, we have to issue over 10,000 ballots every election now because of perm ballot, um, the way our constitution had changed. So it's a lot more work on the offices um now because of perm ballot, um, they get it no matter what because they're on that list. And then nine-day early voting. And then if you get an absentee ballot with nine-day early voting with another change, is they can bring that ballot in to nine-day early voting and cast that ballot in the machine themselves if they're more comfortable with that, or they can um go on election day and take that ballot and submit it into the tabulator on election day as well. So we're issuing them a ballot, then they have to do a whole nother process once they get to the precinct. So some it's a little bit of a double job uh in that circumstance, but it gives the voter an opportunity to look at the ballot ahead of time that they're not comfortable just looking at it on election day. But then it also gives that voter um confidence that a lot of people would like just to feed it through that day, but want to look at the ballot. So that has, I think, if given confidence to some of the voters for ballot security. Now they can have it ahead of time, look at it, make proper choices, and then they can feed it through if they wish. Um, our EV counting board across the state of Michigan, our absentee ballots are so secure. Uh, the the I guess the measures that we have to take ahead of time between uh testing and procedures and lockup and all the checks and balances we have during a whole election uh cycle, uh it is very, very secure.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Just uh uh corollary to that. So what what what machines do you all use?

SPEAKER_01 11:58

We use Heart in Genesee County.

SPEAKER_02 12:01

And I think um that we have some listeners that are super deep in the weeds, and then some listeners uh like students and others that are just uh intrigued about the profession. So what what what's the process uh uh that did you decide to go with with that company?

SPEAKER_01 12:16

So currently we're out for bid right now for uh equipment if it's time. So what happened if the state will go out, they'll meet with clerks across and county clerks and everything, come up with an RFP, and then they'll go through and rate to see what what meets the qualifications at that time. So our equipment is coming up to being 10 years old, so it's good for 10 years, and then we go through the whole other process. So they ended up coming up with three different companies ESNS, Dominion, and Hart. And ultimately each county got to pick which um vendor they would like to use. And our county picked Hart, and there's only 11 Hart um counties across the state of Michigan, and I believe seven ESNS and the rest went with Dominion across the state. Uh, we've currently had no issues with heart in our jurisdiction as far as uh like going through audits, everything is matched every single time. We go through hand audits, um, the Bureau of Elections comes in and audit us. And so I currently am happy with HART in the way it has um been so accurate, I guess is what I would want to say. I we've never had any issues, as I've heard from other clerks across the state of Michigan, have different issues with some of their equipment. I don't hear that coming across from our current vendor.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

So you have been in your role for a while, and you are obviously incredibly passionate about it. You have helped Genesee County through some pretty new ideas and sticky situations. What really inspired you to get into a role like this?

SPEAKER_01 14:06

Actually, I fell into this role. Um, so I worked my way up. You know, I you I love what I do. Um, elections are my passion. I love to teach um about elections. I love teaching election inspector training. I am passionate about it and keeping democracy intact, um, letting everyone know that our elections are safe and secure across the state of Michigan. And being transparent, ensuring that, you know, across, you know, the county for sure and the state, that it is safe to vote absentee. It is safe to go to the polling location. Um, there's nothing illie willy going on anywhere across, you know, across the state of Michigan. And what I believe voters don't understand, all the checks and balances we have to go through and the audit procedures. And when I run into, you know, naysayers or whomever, I'm like, well, become an election inspector, see how it works. Um, take, you know, give it a chance, you know, just learn. Or my biggest thing is please just call me. I will talk to you. I'll answer questions for 30 minutes if that's what you need to, you know, make you feel secure about your vote and turning an absentee ballot. I'll take that time versus you know, trying to answer some crazy social media post.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

Um I don't want to dwell on a negative. Uh I I I like that term nay naysayers. It's a bit of a euphemism because I'm sure some of these conversations in recent years have been quite heated. Um let's do a little bit of rapid fire of what I mean, what what are the questions? And look, it's it's American going back to the dawn of the republic to to ask questions of our government. And um that that's a beautiful thing in a democracy like this. But it's clear a lot of Michiganders have a lot of questions because there have been a lot of changes. There's also people whose questions maybe are a little more conspiratorial. So, I mean, what what are some of the more popular or common questions that seem to come up?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Our biggest issue is signature verification. Um, you know, I've done this through three times, or why are you checking my signature? Also, is my ballot going to count? Are you just throwing it in the back and not gonna count it? Um, I mailed it to you. It's those things, or I am uh violating the right to vote because I'm asking for more information to verify who they are and trying to explain this is a law. I'm only following the law. Um, being screamed at, you know, constantly on election day because they waited till the last minute to register to vote. Um, that's not a me issue. That happens to be a you issue, and you're not going to treat myself or my staff um like this because you waited till the last minute and you don't have the proper information. Um, I have given the information, the phone number to the Bureau of Elections because they they've threatened to turn me in and I'm not letting them vote. I'm like, here's the phone number. You can go ahead and give them a call. Here it is. And you know, I'm I give I bend over backwards the best that I can, following the law, of course. But there's certain circumstances that I I can't help them. They don't have the proper information. I'm sorry, you either have to go to your other jurisdiction or you're not gonna be able to vote, or you're gonna have to vote um, you know, a ballot that's not gonna get turned in until you bring me the information that I need. So we try to get out ahead of time, especially large elections, even years like, hey, it's time to register to vote. Don't forget to have all your stuff in. You can only tell though them for so long that hey, you you got to take responsibility also.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

How many total voters? We should have discussed this earlier. How many total voters are there in the township?

SPEAKER_01 17:57

I have 32,000 registered voters.

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Oh wow. And then what is turnout on average?

SPEAKER_01 18:03

I have about a 72% turnout.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

Oh wow. My my uh pack goes off to um the voters of uh your township. That's great. I wish the rest of the country turned out at that level.

SPEAKER_01 18:14

Yes, we do have uh quite a big turnout, obviously in a special election, but big years we do. Um currently going into a large election year with everyone in Michigan here um terming out our governor, secretary of state, attorney general. They're um saying it'll probably be bigger than our presidential election in 24. The turnout should be.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

And you got control of the legislature and obviously uh the U.S. Congress. There's a lot happening in the state of Michigan. So uh I really appreciate you and your colleagues in the trenches making um elections happen. I I think I think most people just take it for granted that oh, it's like electricity, you just turn on a switch. No, there's so many moving pieces that uh are behind the scenes in any uh election.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

As I was saying, we have a May special election, we're already starting to prepare. So I think the normal person doesn't realize the amount of hours that we put into um preparing for an election, and the more that we can prepare on our end just makes election day um go much smoother. So in November preparing 24, um, my staff and myself, we worked 64 days straight to make sure that we were prepared, ready ahead of time what we could swamp. They just weren't eight-hour days. Uh, we average probably 10 hours a day. Um, we work Saturdays, Sundays, then nine-day early voting kicked in. So usually on those weekends, you could get caught up on some things people weren't coming in. But now with nine-day early voting, that changes, that takes away those extra weekends to get caught up on uh items you didn't get to get to during the week. And then also another thing to think about is we still have our everyday job to do. We have minutes in, I have FOIA, accounts payable, uh, any, you know, special assessment districts, uh, payroll that I have to get out. So I just don't do elections either. I have a daily job I have to do on top of mailing out, you know, 15,000, 16,000 ballots in a in election cycle.

SPEAKER_02 20:18

Well, we're gonna let you get back to that uh daily job. You've been super generous with your time. Can't Cameron will pose the uh uh the last question.

SPEAKER_00 20:28

What is a moment? It's a little bit more heartfelt than diving truly deep into the facts of Michigan elections. But what's a moment from your career that has really reminded you why your role is so important and integral?

SPEAKER_01 20:47

In 24, it was a big change. 22 it was rough. People were not um very friendly, very angry for whatever reason. In 24, during the whole election season, um they were all very thankful. Um, thank you for what you do. Um, we appreciate you for what you do, and being a part of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and being on the board and doing um training and setting all that up. Um being able to be a part of that has uh really helped me grow where I've I feel I've made a difference as far as um being out there trying to learn more to be better for elections in itself. But just I love that people are more appreciative in 24. And because there for a while I didn't know if I wanted to do it anymore. Um, because they were it was just it was hard. It was hard. I never feared for anything before. Um, and so to have people come back in though in 24 and like put that back in me and still in me, yeah, this is really what I still love to do, and just trying to make a difference and keeping people informed about all the changes is what's Most important to me.

SPEAKER_02 22:04

Well, Lynn, we we call the show uh Keepers of the Republic because we think that you and your colleagues across this country are the most important thing to keeping this republic. Um free and fair elections. Uh um we should just acknowledge that there's well over a billion people in this world that don't have any concept of free and fair elections and we shouldn't take it for granted. So thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. You guys take care.

SPEAKER_02 22:31

If you like this episode, please share it on social media and tell your friends. It's the best way for folks to find out about us. I hope you'll agree that our guest is indeed a keeper of the republic. If you want to learn more about how you can help keep our republic, stop on over to our website, keepourrepublic.org.