Marquette County was expected to complete its Nov. 3 election canvass early in the week of Nov. 9, according to a WZMQ report published that day.

County boards across Michigan generally have until Nov. 17 to finish their work. That is the 14-day deadline established by Michigan election law.

David Allen, who coordinates election observation for the League of Women Voters of Marquette County, described strong participation in WZMQ’s report.

“There was just a huge turnout for everything,” Allen told the station.

The Michigan Department of State reported that more than 750,000 people voted early and about 1.85 million absentee ballots had been returned as of 10:30 p.m. Election Day. Those figures were a snapshot, not final certified turnout.

What county canvassers review

County canvassers check election returns, reconcile records and resolve discrepancies before certifying results, according to the Michigan Bureau of Elections’ canvassing manual.

Each county has a four-member board divided evenly between the two major political parties. Boards were required to begin their canvasses by 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

The county clerk supports the board and provides guidance on election procedures but does not cast a board vote.

Post-election processing also includes ballots covered by specific deadlines. The state election calendar set 5 p.m. Nov. 6 as the deadline to correct an absentee-ballot return-envelope signature. Eligible mailed military and overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day had to arrive by Nov. 9.

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum described canvassing as an election-security safeguard and said certified totals typically differ little from unofficial results, the Lansing State Journal reported.

State board meets Nov. 23

County certification completes the process for county and most local contests. Other results go to the Board of State Canvassers for certification.

The state board is scheduled to meet Monday, Nov. 23, when it could complete statewide certification.

Its current members are Republican Chair Richard Houskamp, Republican Paul Cordes, Democratic Vice Chair Mary Ellen Gurewitz and Democrat Heather Cummings.

The board certifies statewide elections, legislative contests spanning county lines and judicial elections other than probate judgeships.