Local elections officials need help in 2022

“We. Need. Help.” That’s the message from local clerks as we get closer to the August primary elections and the big November election here in Michigan.

“It’s very important that we maintain a high level of integrity in our elections and the security. But we need resources to do that.” —Justin Roebuck, Ottawa county clerk/register of deeds

A large, bipartisan group of election administrators wrote an open letter last week to state leaders. It urges them to get beyond partisan posturing and pass election reform bills before it’s too late in the 2022 cycle.

Listen: Two local clerks talk about the challenges they face in 2022 and what they need from state leaders.

Guests

Barb Byrum is the Ingham County clerk, a Democrat who previously served in the state Legislature. Among other things, she says clerks want more time to pre-process absentee ballots, more options for early voting, and more transparency for existing election audits.

“There are over 1,500 of us,” she says. “We are Republicans, we are Democrats, and some are nonpartisan.”

“I really need those elected officials to stand up and tell their followers that the elections are safe, secure, and the results are accurate, rather than feed into election conspiracies and the Big Lie.”

Justin Roebuck is the Ottawa County clerk/register of deeds, and a Republican.

“It’s very important that we maintain a high level of integrity in our elections and the security. But we need resources to do that.”

Related: Michigan Elections Officials Leaving Jobs in High Numbers Amid Threats, Harassment (MichMash)