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All Voting is Local Michigan

Board of Canvassers Observer Program

We are recruiting volunteers to observe the County Board of Canvassers Meetings.

Posted September 11, 2024

Background & Context

Observers are crucial at county canvassing board meetings to ensure election integrity. In rural Michigan, where observers are few, it's vital to cover every county to safeguard the certification process and voter rights.

Immediate Problem

We need to ensure there are enough observers, especially in rural counties, to monitor county canvassing board meetings and safeguard the election certification process.

Work & Deliverables

A lawyer observing the county canvass should:

- Attend a county canvassing board meeting, which begin within 48 hours after an election and continues until the canvass is complete, typically within 14 days.

- Be aware that boards must wait six days after Election Day to account for military and overseas ballots.

- Ensure that any observations and participation comply with local election laws, specifically focusing on the transparency and accuracy of the process.

- Utilize the SignUpGenius (SUG) platform, in partnership with the League of Women Voters Michigan, to schedule observation shifts, divided into three time slots: 9am—12pm, 1pm—3pm, and 3pm—5pm, with some variation depending on the county’s schedule. Volunteers can sign up for multiple shifts.

- We will streamline the information as we approach the certification timeline, and volunteers can choose which counties to monitor. However, we’ll prioritize rural counties and send out a list for focus areas.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • To sign up for a shift for Sign-Up Genius, the League has two program requirements:
  • Volunteers must participate in Observer Training
  • Adopt the League's Observation Guidelines discussed during training

Collaboration Phase

  • Wear your League badge or an LWV nametag. The League’s presence must be visible
  • Observe the Board of Canvasser’s processes and decisions. Follow the County Canvass Checklist
  • Take notes
  • If you observe any disruptions or attempts to slow the canvass, report it

Wrap Up

  • Complete a Google Form shift report within two hours of concluding your shift

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 6-10 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: Volunteers must complete Observer Training. Election attorney Mark Brewer will conduct a live session (date TBD), with a recording available. We’re also developing de-escalation training materials.
  • Site-Preference: On-Site
  • Open to Law Students: Yes
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: None
  • Mentoring Provided: No
  • Supervision Provided: No

Locations

  • MI
All Voting is Local Michigan

All Voting’s mission is to fight voter suppression and advance pro-voter policies at the state and local level, ensuring that all Americans, particularly Black, Brown, Native American, and other historically marginalized communities, have their voices heard.

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