BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) — A authorized dispute is brewing over the retabulation of some votes in Calhoun County, with potential that the brand new depend may have an effect on who is distributed to the Michigan Home of Representatives.
Unofficial outcomes of the Nov. 6 election present that Steve Frisbie, a Republican at present serving on the county fee, defeated incumbent Rep. Jim Haadsma, a Democrat.
In a press release, the Michigan Democratic Occasion stated the preliminary unofficial outcomes confirmed Frisbie with almost 1,400 extra votes than Haadsma. However the Calhoun County clerk then realized that about 2,800 absentee ballots had not been counted, The Detroit Information experiences, and revised the unofficial outcomes. The up to date figures had Frisbie up by solely 58 votes.
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On Wednesday, Frisbie filed a lawsuit towards the Calhoun County Board of Canvassers, asking a county decide to cease the board’s ordered recount of absentee ballots from Battle Creek.
The swimsuit says the canvassers ordered that recount Tuesday morning earlier than that they had reviewed the Battle Creek absentee voter returns. It argues that is unlawful and that beneath state regulation, canvassers might solely order corrective motion after they evaluation the information.
“(Ordering a recount) is not consistent with (the board’s) authority provided by the Michigan Election Law and would functionally preempt the detailed mechanisms that law provides for canvassing the vote prior to the decision to order a recount — which is simply not (the board’s) call,” Frisbie’s swimsuit reads partly. “All ballots have been cast, and the canvass of the election results is ongoing.”
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However the Michigan Democrats stated the canvassers OK’d the retally after the county clerk checked in with the Michigan Bureau of Elections and “indicat(ing) the canvassers did have the authority to order re-tabulation.”
“I want to see every vote accurately counted, regardless of whether it impacts the results of the election,” Haadsma, who’s from Battle Creek, stated in a press release launched by the Michigan Democrats. “Confidence in our elections is essential to the health of our democracy, and the people of Battle Creek deserve to know that every effort was made to ensure the accurate tabulation of their votes.”
When Frisbie’s swimsuit was filed, the recount was paused for a time Wednesday. The Michigan Democrats say it began again up after the canvassers voted once more to go ahead. Representatives from each campaigns had been there as work resumed, the county clerk stated.
Whether or not or not the retabulation may truly tip the election in Haadsma’s favor stays to be seen.
The county clerk declined an on-camera interview Wednesday, citing the lawsuit.
