All modules and documents needed to complete the 2022/2023 Continuing Education Curriculum are available in eLearning. To remain accredited, clerks must complete all the continuing education training requirements by the end of the year. The continuing education curriculum consists of the following:  

Signature Verification Training 

Signature Verification, Voter Notification, and Signature Cure Document 

Address Confidentiality Program Module 

Please note that the “Signature Verification Training” and “Address Confidentiality Program Module” documents are the same documents that have been previously shared with clerks and have been in eLearning since this summer. The “Signature Verification, Voter Notification, and Signature Cure” Document has been updated to reflect the changes made by Proposal 2022-2 and implementation legislation. The trainings must be completed by Dec. 31, 2023 to maintain accreditation. The Bureau estimates it will take approximately 1 hour to complete all 3 trainings.  

If you have already completed these trainings, you do not need to review them again by December 31 to maintain your accreditation. However, all clerks should review the updated “Signature Verification, Voter Notification, and Signature Cure Document” prior to the February 27 presidential primary election to ensure you have received the updated training.  

The Presidential Primary includes unique requirements for absent voter ballot applications and the permanent mail ballot list that are now codified in state statute. At least 60 days before the Presidential Primary, local clerks must send The Presidential Primary Ballot Selection Form, now available in eLearning, to voters on the permanent mail ballot list who have not made a political party ballot selection. If the voter does not return the form at least 40 days before the Presidential Primary election, the clerk must notify the voter via phone, email, and text message, if available, of the requirement to make a party ballot selection in order to receive a Presidential Primary ballot.  

If a voter enrolls on the permanent mail ballot list after the clerk has sent out the Presidential Primary ballot selection forms, and the voter has not made a ballot selection, the clerk must immediately send the voter a Presidential Primary ballot selection form, with prepaid return postage.  

If there are other items on the ballot, permanent mail ballot list voters who have not made a party ballot selection before the election must be sent a ballot with any offices or proposals, other than president, along with a notice that indicates both that the voter did not receive a Presidential Primary election ballot because they did not make a ballot selection and the process by which they can still participate in the election. 

Election Review Specialist 13 - This position provides specialized support to the Bureau of Election's (BOE) Security and Standards Section regarding the three procedural steps following elections: audits, recounts, and canvasses. This includes providing expert advice, review, and support regarding post-election audits, recounts, and canvasses, to BOE management and staff. The incumbent serves as a BOE liaison with national, state, county, and local election administration experts regarding best practices surrounding post-election canvassing, recounts, and audits of Michigan elections and as the primary staff member responsible for enforcing and ensuring compliance with auditing and other post-election procedures. Travel will be required for this position. This posting closes Dec. 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. 

Voting Systems Specialist 13 - This position supports the Bureau of Election's Security and Standards Section, providing expert advice regarding voting systems to BOE management and staff, the Board of State Canvassers, and election administrators statewide. The incumbent serves as a BOE liaison with voting system vendors and as the program manager for voting system vendors who contract, direct, and conduct complex testing and certification of voting systems used in Michigan. The incumbent develops and monitors procedures, guidelines, and policies related to voting systems, ballot standards, ballot containers, seals, and absent voter ballot drop boxes. They also serve as an expert consultant and liaison between voting systems and the voter registration and election database. This posting closes Dec. 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. 

The Bureau will be featuring a series of videos and articles designed to increase familiarity with general accessibility requirements and best practices. 

As election officials, it is critical that we support all individuals’ right to vote and provide the necessary resources to help voters feel more engaged and confident.  

We believe that this series will be educational and help us all continue to ensure that everyone can vote privately and independently whether they vote at a polling place or at home.  

Last week, the first video was entitled “Understanding Disability.” That video provided an overview of the concepts involved with disabilities and why various accessibility options at polling places are essential to those voters. The link to that video is available in the previous News Update. We encourage you to view and use these videos in your trainings.  

In our second installment, we are featuring a video titled, “Interacting with People with Disabilities… and Everyone.” This video explains how to communicate and interact with people with disabilities and explores the challenges they face when participating in an election. This 8-minute video was developed by the United States Election Commission as part of a continuing educational program for election officials and their teams. The video can be found here: youtube.com/watch?v=8jLH0Ay7R4s 

Audits should be able to be completed in 2-3 hours and will focus on the completion of several key Election Day and pre- and post-Election Day processes.