Recent national headlines have focused on a demand from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for Wayne County’s 2024 election ballots and materials.
There’s an important detail that has gotten lost in some of the coverage:
The DOJ requested these records from the wrong office.
In Michigan, local clerks run elections and maintain election records, not the county clerk. The materials the DOJ is asking for are held by local city and township clerks.
This reflects a basic misunderstanding of how elections work in Michigan.
How elections actually work in Michigan
Elections in Michigan are run at the local level.
That means:
→ Local clerks administer elections in their communities
→ Local election workers and volunteers manage polling locations
→ Local offices maintain ballots and election records
There are checks and balances built into every step of the process, carried out by people in our communities.
What state leaders are saying
Attorney General Dana Nessel:
“Recycling debunked 2020 election conspiracy theories as justification to demand copies of the ballots of Michigan residents is a clear attempt to bully clerks and spread fear, even after Donald Trump won Michigan in 2024. If this administration wants to bring this circus to our state, my office is prepared to protect the people’s right to vote.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer:
“Michigan’s elections are safe and secure, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is an attempt to take away Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote. More than 1,600 locally elected clerks across Michigan ensure that every citizen can vote and have their vote counted.”
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson:
“We won’t be intimidated by these tactics. We stand with Wayne County to ensure we protect the integrity of our elections and the privacy of Michigan voters. And we are ready to do the same with any other Michigan clerks DOJ threatens in this way. As always, we will follow the law and fight to protect our secure, accessible election system against this administration’s ongoing abuse of power.”
What this means
This situation highlights two things:
→ Michigan’s elections are run locally, with systems in place to ensure accuracy and accountability.
→ There are ongoing efforts to question or interfere with how elections are administered.
Michigan voters choose our leaders. Not the other way around.
Local election officials, workers, and volunteers carry out the work that makes that possible.
Stay engaged
We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, you can support this work by sharing accurate information and uplifting the role of local clerks, election workers, and volunteers in your community.
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