ePollbook Use Now Required by Law

In accordance with Public Act 614 of 2018, all cities and townships are now required to use the electronic pollbook software developed by the Michigan Bureau of Elections in each precinct on election day to process voters and generate election precinct reports.

Those jurisdictions who have not yet applied to receive a laptop are encouraged to submit the Electronic Pollbook (EPB) Grant Application ASAP. Without applying for the EPB grant, you will have to provide a laptop to use in each precinct by some other means.

The grant covers the initial cost of implementing the EPB by providing the following items per precinct:

• 1 laptop and bag
• mouse
• encrypted flash drive
• magnetic strip card-reader

This grant does not cover laptops for absent voter counting boards, school precincts, or the costs of maintenance or replacement of laptops or associated e-pollbook hardware. Counties who have not yet applied for the EPB grant are encouraged to do so. They can receive one set of e-pollbook items which may be helpful for training purposes or providing a back-up in emergencies.

If your jurisdiction has already received laptops through this grant program but has added additional precincts since applying for the EPB grant, you may submit an application to receive a laptop for any additional precincts.  The grant application is available in the eLearning Center.

Details on training and delivery will be provided after the grant application has been submitted.

Ballot Proposal Deadline

As a reminder, ballot wording of proposals qualified to appear on the May ballot must be certified to county and local clerks by 4 p.m. on February 12th.

Counties - please remember Ballot Administration is due on February 14th.

Bipartisan Policy Center Webcast

The Bipartisan Policy Center is hosting a discussion on The Voting Experience: 2018 and the Future on February 14th from 8:30 - 5 p.m.  This can be viewed by webcast by signing at the Bipartisan Policy Center's website.

BOE Closed

The Bureau of Elections will be closed on Monday, February 18th in observance of President's Day.

BOE Question of the Week:

I received an email from electiondata@michigan.gov is that a BOE email address?  It asked for copies of Applications to Vote and AV Ballot Applications, what if they are under seal?

Answer:

The electiondata@michigan.gov email is a valid BOE email address and you should comply with the request.  While only ballots have to be kept under seal for retention purposes, if your Applications to Vote and/or AV Ballot Applications are also under seal, you do have authority to break the seal to access the documents.

Have a question you'd  like to see
in the Question of the Week?  Send it to elections@michigan.gov.