On the heels of the presidential primary voter list debacle comes news that Michigan’s overall election system does o.k, when compared to neighboring states.
A new study out of Ohio State University, “From Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States,” says Michigan voters benefit from a much better system than Illinois, which is rife with mismanagement and political influence.
But there are upgrades to be made here, including scrubbing the state’s master voter file of invalid (including dead) votes and improved training for poll workers.
“There is plenty to be gained from looking at best practices in neighboring states,” Common Cause Michigan chairman John Chamberlin declared in this press release. “Minnesota has limited Election Day auditing that assures the accuracy of vote tabulations. Ohio has a system of ballot order rotation so candidates don’t win just because they’re the first name listed for an office. Wisconsin and Minnesota have Election Day Registration that boosts voter turnout without any evidence of fraud. Why don’t we have those things?”
One Comment
I hate to disagree with the reporter, but Michigan does have ballot rotation. We don’t have election day registration, I admit, and as a clerk, I’m really glad we don’t. I’m not sure what the “limited election day auditing” is in Minnesota, but our tabulating systems are extremely accurate, so I seriously doubt there are any errors.
Michigan has a wonderful election system and dedicated clerks that make it work.