Republican canvassers in Delta Co. expected to switch vote, certify recall election

Local 3 News Team
·3 min read
3

ESCANABA, Mich. (WJMN) — The Board of Canvassers in Delta County will meet Friday night to make a final decision on whether or not the four members will agree to certify a recall election held earlier this month.

The recall election concerned three county commissioners who faced over a year of strong opposition from constituents after their decision to fire then-administrator Emily DeSalvo who spoke out about what she saw as unethical behavior.

On Wednesday, the canvassers failed to reach an agreement on whether or not they should certify the election. The vote was split along party lines, and we’re told the republican canvassers cited a “suspicious ratio” of votes in two districts as to why they were wary to give the election the thumbs-up.

A press release shared on social media connected to the canvassers said they were “working closely” with a member of the Election Integrity Force and former MI legislator Patrick Colbeck, who have both advanced theories of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

BACKGROUND: Recall election still uncertified as canvassers eye suspect ‘ratio’

Meanwhile, the democratic canvassers and county clerk have said they found nothing wrong with the May 7 election results, telling Local 3 that the parameters they are mandated to check had no issues.

In a call Friday afternoon, democrat canvasser Theresa Nelson told Local 3 she had been told the republicans planned to certify the election when clerk Nancy Przewrocki asked whether she approved of the republicans’ request to move their next meeting from Monday morning to Friday afternoon.

Neither republican canvassers Bonnie Hakkola or Sema Deed could be reached for comment.

According to state law, the Board of Canvassers has two weeks to certify an election, and has a defined set of parameters on which to judge the election.

A letter received Thursday from the Director of Elections Secretary with the Board of State Canvassers to the local Board of Canvassers described the mandate as such:

Under both the Michigan Constitution and Michigan Election Law, county canvassers have a clear and nondiscretionary duty to certify election results based solely on election returns.

The Constitution and Michigan Election Law do not authorize boards of county canvassers to refuse to certify election results based on claims made by third parties of alleged election irregularities, or a general desire to conduct election investigations.

In the ongoing Delta County Canvass, my understanding is that the election returns have been reviewed, the tabulator tapes match the reported results (or any corrections have been made, as needed) to the satisfaction of the County Board of Canvassers.

Under these circumstances, there are no statutory or constitutional grounds to fail to perform the duties of the Board.

The letter also cited a Michigan law that said failure to perform the duties required by Michigan Election Law could land the canvassers a misdemeanor, as well as landing the county a bill for the state then having to make certification efforts.

The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 5:30 p.m. at the Delta County Courthouse.

You can read the full letter from the Director of Elections Secretary here.

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