DETROIT – The Wayne County Board of Canvassers unanimously voted to certify the November election results Tuesday and asked the Michigan Secretary of State to conduct an audit of any Wayne County precincts with unexplained mismatching vote totals.
The board initially was deadlocked with a 2-2 vote. Two Republican members of the board voted not to certify and Democratic members voted to certify.
The two Republican members, Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, initially did not vote to certify, saying 70% of Detroit’s absentee voter counting boards were not balanced. If the numbers don’t balance, they cannot be recounted.
Detroit had the same issue in the August primary, but the board voted to certify the results then.
RELATED: In reversal, Wayne County Board of Canvassers unanimously approve certification of election votes
RELATED: Deadlocked Wayne County Board of Canvassers fails to certify election results
Palmer suggested certifying the rest of Wayne County but excluding Detroit, which was criticized by some members of the public.
After hours of public comment, the board reached a compromise to certify the results but also ask Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to investigate the unbalanced precincts within the county, including Detroit and Livonia.
“I am absolutely satisfied with the outcome with the certification of the votes,” said Board of Canvassers vice chair Jonathon Kinloch. “I’m very proud of my colleagues on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers. We found a way to address concerns that have been lingering.”