A recent investigation into election integrity in Michigan has revealed significant irregularities in Muskegon County’s November 5, 2024 election. The findings highlight questionable absentee ballot tallies, missing documentation, and unexplained vote shifts that benefited Democratic candidates.
Unexpected Overnight Vote Shifts Raise Concerns
Reports submitted to Michigan State Representative Rachelle Smit, who chairs the House Elections Committee, detail dramatic swings in election results during the early morning hours following Election Day. Republican candidates led key races until approximately 1:30 AM when a surge of absentee ballots flipped the results in favor of Democratic opponents. Another influx at 4:00 AM further cemented the shift.
Key Contested Races:
- County Clerk
- Treasurer
- Register of Deeds
- Water Resources Commissioner
- District 4 County Commissioner
Analysts noted that absentee ballots deviated significantly from all three forms of in-person voting, a statistical anomaly raising concerns of electoral manipulation. Election integrity experts argue such deviations defy expected voting patterns.
Absentee Ballot Discrepancies and Unverified Votes
Following a recount initiated by Republican official Zach Lahring, investigators found that six precincts in Muskegon County had major documentation issues, making ballot verification impossible.
Notable Findings:
- Roosevelt Park precinct lacked an election certificate, inspector signatures, and seal numbers, making it unverifiable.
- Muskegon Charter Township precincts 1 through 4 were deemed uncountable due to missing documentation.
- Fruitport Township flagged 555 absentee ballots due to inconsistencies.
Michigan state law prohibits the recounting of ballot boxes with unmatched totals, a safeguard introduced after questionable recounts in past gubernatorial elections. However, critics argue these laws are not being strictly enforced by state authorities.
Election Transparency Issues and Lack of Documentation
Investigators also reported that Muskegon County election officials withheld precinct-level results despite multiple public records requests. During a Board of Canvassers meeting, an election supervisor briefly displayed results before quickly removing them, citing “complexity” as the reason for non-disclosure.
Further concerns arose when election inspectors in Roosevelt Park failed to sign off on poll books, a possible violation of election law that could carry legal consequences. Despite these discrepancies, some city officials declined to take corrective action.
Calls for Election Oversight and Accountability
In light of these findings, election integrity advocates and the Muskegon County GOP are calling for immediate action:
- Establishing an independent elections oversight committee.
- Conducting a forensic audit of absentee ballots.
- Holding election officials accountable for procedural failures.
“This pattern is undeniable,” said one election integrity investigator. “We’re seeing a repeat of suspicious ballot surges during critical hours, swinging elections at the last moment. This undermines public trust in the electoral process.”
The findings have been forwarded to local law enforcement and county prosecutors for further investigation. Meanwhile, Michigan Representative Rachelle Smit has scheduled hearings on March 18 to examine additional election integrity concerns, including testimonies from those involved in the Muskegon County probe.
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