05/27/2026
ICYMI, here’s the opinion piece from the Huron Daily Tribune that was published on Saturday, May 23.
We featured a screenshot of this piece over the weekend. Here is is again in an easier-to-read format.
Thanks, Charlie Henry, for this insight.
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EVERY VOTE COUNTS
The recent election for the Cass City School District bond funding request highlights the importance of laws governing elections, especially boards of county canvassers. These boards consist of two Republican canvassers and two Democratic canvassers. The Board is required to follow many election laws and rules passed by the legislature to properly certify election results.
When polls close on Election Day election inspectors get to work completing each precinct’s poll book and statement of votes and sealing all ballots and election materials in secure containers. One Republican and one Democrat then deliver all records and materials to a receiving board which ensures all materials are properly sealed and the number of voters recorded matches the number of ballots cast in the precinct. The statement of votes must then be delivered to the Board of County Canvassers before the canvass begins.
Because voters are interested in learning about election results, it is common for “unofficial” results (from statements of votes) to be posted before the Board of Canvassers completes its “official” results. Unofficial results don’t have the effect of law, however, because of advanced technology, the need for instant gratification, and claims by election skeptics that we should have official vote totals on election night, it can be easy to forget that it often takes days or weeks to certify results of elections involving hundreds, thousands, or millions of ballots. Media folks aren’t always correct with winner “projections.” “Dewey Wins” was the headline of the Chicago Tribune the day after Harry Truman was elected president in 1948. There are many other wrong projections and predictions before then and up to today.
The unofficial vote count for the Cass City School District showed that the bond request failed by one vote. The Tuscola County Board of Canvassers then completed its job of thoroughly reviewing each precinct’s election materials for completeness and accuracy, correcting any obvious mathematical errors, and addressing other issues within its authority. The Board then determined and certified the election result. The bond request was approved by two votes. As required by law, the Board resolved issues involving military and overseas ballots, signature validation, and absentee ballot validation to assure accurate results and election integrity and security. The process worked.
We’re told that that “every vote counts” and it’s true. In 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, officially granting nearly 26 million women the right to vote nationwide. The Tennessee General Assembly vote was initially tied until a member changed his mind in favor of the Amendment. Congress, similar to a board of canvassers, later certified the adoption of the Amendment. In 2024, Huron County Commissioner Steve Vaughn was elected after a tie vote was broken by drawing names from a hat, so to speak. Every vote counts.
According to the Heritage Foundation, from 2007--2023 nineteen people in Michigan were convicted of mostly minor election law violations involving many millions of voters. The non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice has stated that “by all measures, the 2020 general election was one of the most secure elections in our history.” Elections are run by humans, and humans make mistakes. Boards of canvassers are established by law to correct election mistakes. Our election workers and officials work hard to continue to have free, fair, accurate and secure elections. As Yogi Berra said, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” and elections aren’t over ‘til the Board of Canvassers says so.
Everyone, please get out and vote.
Charles Henry
Huron County Democratic Party
