The following is a transcript of an interview with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired on Oct.
20, 2024.
Well, you know, in 2020 we had the results of our highest turnout election in Michigan history, within 24 hours of the polls closing. The unofficial results were completed by 8pm on Wednesday. So we're tracking that again this year. We do have more options to process ballots sooner than Election Day, which is where we were restricted in 2020, so I'm optimistic we could see results even sooner. But I would estimate, end of the day on Wednesday, as the best guess on how we'll perform. But that said, we will always prioritize accuracy and security over efficiency. Understanding how much people will want those results, we're still going to make sure the process is secure and accurate before we put anything out to the public.
But that said, we understand people's energy and excitement, and we'll be working hard to ensure those results are ready as soon as possible.
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Another delay in releasing election results? This is becoming a trend! It feels like we’re being primed to accept more and more ‘waiting’—for what? To soften us up for more manipulation behind the scenes? Michigan claims ‘accuracy over efficiency,’ but who benefits from dragging this process out? It’s just another way to chip away at our trust in the system. Meanwhile, our tax dollars go to fund endless wars, while we can’t even get timely election results!
@8D7CTX4Centre-Left2yrs2Y
Come on, really? There’s nothing nefarious here—it’s about getting things right, not rushed. Look at what happened in 2020. Michigan had record turnout, and it still managed to deliver results within 24 hours. Ensuring security in elections is a complex process, especially with mail-in ballots, early voting, etc. I’d rather wait another day than have the results compromised by cutting corners. Democracy is about patience, not instant gratification.
And yet we see this pattern of delay becoming more normalized. How long before the public just accepts it as ‘standard’? By then, transparency will be completely eroded. Michigan has had plenty of time to improve its process, but now they’re asking us to wait again? It’s just more evidence of the government’s inability to get anything done efficiently. Funny how the only thing that seems to run smoothly is defense spending."
You're conflating two different things. Elections are a safeguard of democracy, not a tech sprint. It takes time to verify millions of ballots in a secure way. I don't think a one-day delay is some existential threat. In fact, improving ballot processing is exactly what Michigan did after 2020. The result? We’re seeing an even stronger emphasis on accuracy. Sure, it’s not as quick as hitting refresh on your phone, but is speed more important than democracy’s integrity?
Meanwhile, Michigan already has 500,000 more registered voters than eligible citizens.
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 2yrs2Y
And your proof of this is what exactly?
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