Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks at a press conference on Sept. 16, 2020.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson held a press conference Wednesday evening providing updates on the Michigan counting process.
A record 5.2 million Michigan voters cast their ballots this year, beating the previous record of 5 million set in 2008 when former President Barack Obama won the state.
Nearly two-thirds — or 3.3 million — voted absentee.
The tabulation process for the state has officially been completed and counties are in the final stages of receiving reports from the last remaining jurisdictions, Benson said. In previous estimates, Benson predicted Michigan results in by Friday, giving election workers 80 hours to work through the large sum of absentee ballots.
Since the August primary, Michigan has increased the number of high-speed ballot tabulators and the number of people able to be hired with bipartisan teams representing the process, Benson said.
The Associated Press confirmed on Wednesday Democratic nominee Joe Biden was projected to win Michigan’s 16 electoral votes. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump’s campaign filed a lawsuit to halt vote counting in Michigan, alleging Benson is violating constitutional rights by not allowing bipartisan teams to review absentee ballots or challengers to observe the process.
Benson described election day in-person voting as “exceptionally smooth.” Polling locations saw citizens of all backgrounds respect voter’s rights to cast their votes free from threat or intimidation.
As the unofficial results wrap up, the state will now turn to the canvassing part of the process. This involves a bipartisan process of checks and balances which will proceed over the next 13 days.
“As that stage begins in Michigan, and as we continue to see the results of this historic election unfold nationwide, I would caution everyone against spreading misinformation designed to further efforts to sow seeds of doubt about the integrity of our elections here in Michigan and throughout the country,” Benson said. “Whether it’s doctored images, staged demonstrations, false tweets or frivolous lawsuits, the purpose is all the same — to reduce the public’s faith in our elections and their outcomes.”
These efforts, Benson said, will not succeed, citing the Michigan voting process as secure and accurate.
“Anyone who tells you otherwise is attacking our democracy or unhappy with the results,” Benson said.
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