Detroit Regional Chamber > Advocacy > What Happens After the Polls Close?

What Happens After the Polls Close?

October 31, 2024

As Michigan prepares for the 2024 Election Day and the election certification process, the Detroit Regional Chamber encourages business leaders, once again, to play a calm and confident role by sharing facts about the process with employees and their communities. 

“As business leaders and trusted sources of information for our employees and communities, we are in a unique – and privileged – position to ensure these groups are equipped with factual, timely information about our nation’s secure and fair electoral processes,” said Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber. 

On Oct. 29, the Chamber and the Michigan Secretary of State office presented a webinar that broke down our election certification process and ways to better communicate that to different communities and environments.

Opening the conversation, Baruah explained that those who seek to undermine the will of the voters will try to cause chaos, confusion, and fear – exactly the opposite of what American values should be.

“Capitalism and a growing economy can only exist in an environment where Americans have the confidence in not just their elections, but in basic American norms and values,” he said. “I spent a good deal of my career in national politics. I can assure you that our elections are secure … they’re also the envy of the democratic world.”

certification timeline

Counting the Votes

When the polls close at 8 p.m., election administrators begin the lawful process of governing tabulation and certifications. During that, election inspectors verify that the number of ballots matches the number of voters. Remember that our election officials are our neighbors, friends, and community members. It is our shared responsibility to keep them safe from threats and harm.

Tabulating takes time, especially in larger jurisdictions like Detroit. It is typical to have unofficial results the day after the election, and election workers prioritize accuracy over speed.

However, starting this year, absentee ballot counting boards are allowed and starting to pre-process absentee ballots so that some jurisdictions will report partial results shortly after the polls close.

Processing ballots includes verifying the voter’s identity through signature and physically preparing the ballots to be counted by unfolding and removing the ballots from envelopes. Therefore, absentee ballots take more time to security check, process, and count than those cast in person at a polling location. However, these pre-processed votes do not begin official tabulation until after 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Takeaways for Business Leaders:

  • Jurisdictions and election inspectors will always prioritize accuracy over speed.
  • Election inspectors follow laws and establish procedures to tabulate ballots securely.
  • Election inspectors are our family, friends, and neighbors, and there are laws in place to protect them.

Calling the Winners: When Will We Know?

Counting votes accurately takes time, especially in high turnout, close elections, like this election will be,” said Baruah. “Michigan has been a central battleground state this election, and safeguards are in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of results, which, again, will take time to do securely. Voters should remain patient and rely on verified, independent sourcesnot candidates themselves – to indicate when a race has been called.  

We are no longer in an environment where full results can be expected on election night, but there are reputable ways to track progress and determine early results. The Associated Press uses specific criteria to call races, and the Chamber considers calls from the Associated Press and one to two additional bona fide media sources before considering a race called.

It is important to note that candidates cannot declare victory on their own. Verification of election results by independent parties is required, and as the Michigan Department of State shared, it is typical to have unofficial results the day after the election.

Certifying the Results

Election certification is the process of election officials attesting with a signature that the tabulation and canvassing of ballots are a complete and accurate record of all votes cast in the election as reported by the jurisdictions. In Michigan, three “steps” are taken to tabulate in a general election.

The County Canvasses’ Role 

After jurisdictions tabulate ballots, County Boards of Canvassers certify election results by county.

Bipartisan boards review vote totals for consistency across all forms and certificates during this process. This process is a ministerial – or governmental – duty required by state law to certify based solely on election returns by Nov. 19.

If a county board does not certify results by then, the responsibility falls to the Board of State Canvassers.

Takeaways for Business Leaders:

  • Bipartisan boards review all election processes and results to confirm that protocols were followed accurately.
  • Boards also correct any clerical mistakes.

The Board of State Canvassers’ Role 

The Board of State Canvassers canvasses and certifies statewide elections. This bi-partisan board comprises two Republicans and two Democrats and has a deadline of Nov. 25 to canvass and certify results safely.

Statewide recounts occur automatically if a statewide race is within 2,000 votes or by petition if filed within 48 hours of canvass completion.

Takeaways for Business Leaders:

  • Michigan’s election administrators follow the law.
  • It’s common for vote tallies to change from initial results – this does not indicate wrongdoing.
  • Rather, it is evidence that our election system is robust and has checks and balances to correct errors.

The Electoral College’s Role 

For the presidential race, Michigan appoints electors to vote in the electoral college. Electors are appointed based on results certified by the Board of State Canvassers. By law, all Michigan electors must vote for the winning candidate in Michigan—the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2025. Therefore, voters are not voting for the candidate; they are voting for the electoral college representative who is, by law, committed to the assigned winning candidate and cannot change their vote.

Suggested Talking Points:

  • Michigan’s electors must back the winning candidate in our state.
  • We have a strong democracy, and the process is in accordance with the law.