The Board of State Canvassers met on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, and voted to certify the results of the November presidential election. The Bureau of Elections would like to thank our election administrators across all 83 counties again for their hard work and dedication leading to the successful completion of another election. During the meeting, the Bureau presented to the Board on the conduct of the November election. Below is an excerpt of information that was shared with the board: 

“The 5.7 million votes cast in the election represent not only the will of the voters but also the tireless and dedicated efforts of thousands of clerks, election staff, canvassers, and election inspectors across our state.

Certification makes official another successfully administered election in Michigan, which marks, yet again, a substantial accomplishment for our local election officials. This cycle, officials faced the challenge of implementing numerous, major changes to our election system made by amendments to our state constitution passed by voters in 2022 and laws enacted by our Legislature over the last two years.

Election officials got started early last year to prepare for statewide elections in 2024, while also administering local elections in 2023 and their other responsibilities. We had many new initiatives that, in a typical year, would be significant projects on their own. Election officials installed secure absent voter ballot drop boxes in every jurisdiction in the state, as well as prepaid return postage for all absent voter ballots and applications. They also implemented a new permanent absent voter ballot list, allowing voters to sign up one time and be mailed ballots for all future elections until their registration is cancelled or inactivated. The new mail ballot list was especially challenging to administer during the presidential primary, because permanent mail ballot voters needed a separate form to select a ballot for the party primary in which they wished to vote, and the primary was held earlier than in past years because of a legislative change.

No undertaking this year was more significant than the implementation of early in person voting. To implement a brand new method of voting in Michigan, local election officials had to work with their counterparts in local government and their neighboring jurisdictions to form agreements at the municipal and county level to set up early voting agreements and sites. Election officials had to develop and purchase new technology and equipment and determine the procedures that would be used to administer early voting. We had the benefit of funding provided by the Legislature to purchase equipment, rent space, and hire election workers, but the grant process also represented a major undertaking for all involved as state and local purchasing requirements had to be identified and followed.

Some predicted early voting would not be administered successfully or that voters would not embrace it, but they were wrong. Over 9 days of early voting statewide (and more days in some jurisdictions), 1.2 million Michiganders cast ballots before election day. It was popular throughout the state and over every day of early voting. To see so many voters embrace this new option, and election officials administer it so effectively while offering it for the first time in a major general election, was both inspiring and a testament to the commitment and excellence of our election workers.

Another major change this year was early tabulation of absentee ballots, which election officials pushed for as a legislative change and which was used in the vast majority of larger jurisdictions. Clerks predicted this would improve the absent voter ballot counting process and were proven right. With an available week to process absentee ballots before election day, things went much more smoothly, results were available earlier, and it was much easier to keep track of paperwork and keep precincts in balance. We had over 2.2 million voters cast ballots absentee – if you add that to the 1.2 million early voters, we had more than 3.4 million voters casting ballots before election day, slightly up from the 3.3 million we had voting absentee in 2020. We can probably expect the majority of ballots to continue to come in before election day in future elections, and it will be interesting to see how many voters continue to gravitate to early and absentee voting options.

2.3 million voters cast ballots on Election Day itself, which was where we saw the fewest changes, but there were also some important innovations there as well. Voters now have the option to bring in their absentee ballot to the polling place and tabulate it there, and many chose to do so. The Election Day registration process also went more smoothly this year, especially in communities with large numbers of college students who always see higher numbers of same day registrants. Thanks in part to the new option for jurisdictions with high numbers of same day registrations to utilize Election Day vote centers, we did not see the long lines we saw in 2022, another major win for election officials and voters.

All told, more than 5.7 million Michiganders cast ballots, breaking the previous turnout record of around 5.6 million in 2020. This is particularly notable because nationwide, turnout dropped compared to 2024. Voters clearly took advantage of their new options in exercising their right to vote, and election officials worked with diligence and integrity to make sure they had those options.

Most voters only see the election process through their typically smooth and easy experience voting and by watching the election results come in on Tuesday night. But getting to that point, especially this election cycle, took countless long hours from election officials and workers all across our state. Election workers are committed to making sure voters can fully enjoy their rights to register and cast ballots how they choose before or on Election Day, and this cycle especially, that meant a relentless effort and commitment to implementing these new laws over the last 2 years. In the months leading up to each election day, it meant continuous high-volume periods to set up elections, register voters, issue and receive absentee ballots, and administer early and election day voting.

It was grueling, and it was extremely difficult, especially with election officials frequently being subjected to unfair criticism, abuse, and even threats. But that’s what it takes, and election workers got it done. Without all the teams at the municipal, county, and state level working together, this election could not have been administered as successfully as it was.”

The next step in the certification process is the Electoral College meeting in December, where presidential electors will cast their votes for President and Vice President, before the electoral votes are sent to Congress to be counted on Jan. 6, 2025.

To gain user access to a jurisdiction’s Qualified Voter File (QVF), all new clerks or deputy clerks must complete QVF User Access Training provided virtually in eLearning. The BOE Election Administration team has organized all relevant QVF access training materials into a playlist. Look for the QVF Access banner in eLearning. The playlist includes both training curriculums for basic access and complete access along with all relevant links to QVF manuals and supplemental resource guides.

Early Voting November wages reimbursement available:

The reimbursement claim form for Wages from Early Voting during the 2024 November election is now open. This reimbursement claim period will close on Jan. 17, 2025.

To complete your reimbursement request, you will need the following:

1. Submitted Early Voting November Wage Reimbursement claim form
2. Wage Ledger (emailed to BOE-Reimbursement@Michigan.gov)
3. Proof of payment (emailed to BOE-Reimbursement@Michigan.gov)
4. Signed Reimbursement Claim Certification (emailed to BOE-Reimbursement@Michigan.gov)

BOE will only reimburse counties that submitted estimated wages in the Early Voting Grant from Round 1 and/or Round 2. Please submit one claim form per county.

Early Voting Grant Round 2 reimbursement available:

For counties that submitted an Early Voting Grant Round 2 application, you will receive an email with the specific instructions on how to submit your reimbursement request. The submission period will be open through Dec. 31, 2024. If you did not submit an Early Voting Grant Round 2 application between March 4 – April 26, 2024, you are not eligible to submit a Round 2 grant reimbursement request. If you missed the deadline for an Early Voting Grant Round 1 reimbursement request, there will be an opportunity to submit a claim form in the future once all timely requests have been processed.

No availability for additional early voting requests:

Jurisdictions have contacted the Bureau of Elections asking for additional opportunities to request early voting funding. After assessing the current equipment, wage and reimbursement requests, BOE has determined that funding is not available to provide additional reimbursements. BOE will continue to reimburse existing timely requests; however, the amount of reimbursement requested in current requests is expected to use up available funding. Counties and locals may be able to purchase additional security related supplies by leveraging funds available through this funding source.

Special election reimbursements:

Counties and locals that conducted a January 2024 Special Primary and April 2024 Special Election will be contacted directly about reimbursement opportunities from funding allocated by the Legislature.

Reminder: Early Voting Grant 1 & August Wage Requests:

Following the conduct of another successful election, the Operations Division will be renewing efforts to contact counties regarding documentation needed to close out Early Voting Grant 1 and August Wage Requests. Please provide any additional documentation needed to close out requests. At this time, we have completed 54 of 63 Early Voting Grant 1 requests and 66 of 74 August Wage requests.

EPB LPI:

The EPB LPI is scheduled for Jan. 14 – 16 & Jan. 21 – 23, 2025. Week 1, BOE & DTMB will map out the current functionality of the Election Day, Early Voting and Vote Center EPBs. Once requirements have been documented, BOE will work with clerks to provide feedback on future enhancements. In partnership with our security team, BOE will also develop specifications required if a clerk elects to utilize a vendor developed and supported EV EPB. Some clerks have already notified Operations of interest in participating. If you would like to participate, please email BOEOperations@Michigan.gov. Include your name, county, jurisdiction (if applicable) and your contact information. Participation opportunities will be a combination of in-person future process mapping, in-person focus groups, virtual feedback sessions, and online surveys gathering information on specific post-election takeaways and needed enhancements.

The BOE phone line will be closed at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. BOE will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you enjoy a well-deserved break with friends and family.

As part of the post-election audits of the November election, BOE will be conducting a statewide ballot audit of one statewide race in conjunction with post-election precinct procedural audits. These audits will follow a similar process as the audits conducted after the November 2022 General Election. Now that election results have been certified, state and county post-election audits can commence after any recounts are completed. Please watch future News Updates for more details regarding audits and schedules.