Opinion: Why county election clerks are sure your vote will be counted

The two of us do not agree on much, politically. We have different philosophies and different visions for our country. But as Republican and Democratic County Clerks in Michigan, there’s one thing we agree on, unequivocally: Our elections are safe, secure and, most importantly — sacred.

As County Clerks in a swing state, we’ve overseen elections where candidates we support win, and where candidates we support lose. But no matter what happens, our job never changes—we ensure that every vote is counted and we report accurate results to the public. That’s how it works in America. But in recent years, the rise of a false narrative that our elections are “rigged” has caused some Americans to lose faith in the process. As election officials, we are determined and professionally obligated to build it back.

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To be clear, no one should dismiss those who have doubts. While there are plenty of people who promote disinformation for their own personal gain, there are also everyday Americans who are suddenly uncertain that their vote will truly count.

So, let’s start with the facts.

Many eyes

Here’s how it works in Michigan:

As County Clerks, we oversee preparation for and administration of elections. We plan for floods, tornadoes, power outages, road closures, and everything in between.

Before each election, voting equipment is tested publicly on the local level to ensure it meets Michigan’s standards for security and accuracy. From that point on, every move your ballot makes is chaperoned by both Republicans and Democrats.

Every precinct is run by bipartisan election workers, and every vote is counted under the eyes of official observers from both parties. Bipartisan boards of county canvassers audit the poll books, voter lists and vote totals from every precinct.

Any candidate is empowered to request a recount after the results have been certified. After the election is over, County Clerks begin the post-election audit process, which consists of a 77-point checklist of items verifying the proper conduct of the election, including a hand count of ballots in selected precincts to ensure the accuracy of the results.

When public service begets death threats

We got into this work because we love our country, and we believe in democracy. After years of overseeing elections, we know the poll workers from the local level on up feel the same. Like us, they’re Americans. When they’re not helping you cast your ballot, they’re taking up the collection at church or grabbing some milk from Meijer. They’re your neighbors. They love this country like you do. And the work they do keeps our democracy running. But poll workers are now facing threats — even death threats — just for doing that work. These threats are also leading some local elected officials to leave office or retire, depriving us of their decades of knowledge and know-how. And it is happening just as disinformation — from the broader lies of a stolen election to smaller, specific lies about removing voters from the rolls — is growing more common and more sophisticated.

These are not just threats to personal safety. They are real threats to the republic. We must take steps to restore trust, disarm disinformation, and protect our elections, election workers, and democracy.

It starts with even more transparency. Because when people understand how exhaustive election security is, and just how many checks and balances are built into the election systems of all 50 states, they are more at ease. And while county clerks are already overstretched and under-resourced, we have an obligation to do everything in our power to reach out to those who may have doubts. Hold town meetings. Create PSAs. Open up our doors and show our communities just how safe our elections are.

Our elections truly are sacred, but they only work when everyone — from governors and clerks to poll workers, voters, and candidates — believe in them and work to keep them safe for everyone. If you have doubts or concerns about election security, reach out to your local election officials, attend the town halls and webinars, and ask about the checks and balances in place. Get to know the people working the polls in your precinct. They really are your neighbors.

And know this: if we catch anyone, Democrat or Republican, trying to compromise an election in our counties, we will lock arms and push to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Our democracy is too important not to -- and that’s something we can all agree on.

Barb Byrum is the Ingham County Clerk. Justin Roebuck is the Ottawa County Clerk.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Opinion: Michigan county election clerks sure your vote will count