GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Former Michigan Governor John Engler, along with Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons and Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp, toured the early voting site at DeVos Place on Wednesday. The Devos Place is one of four early voting locations in Grand Rapids.
Engler is a board member of the Democracy Defense Project, a group made up of people from various political backgrounds with a goal of reassuring Americans the election system is safe and secure.
Through their tour, the group took a look at different security measures currently in place, including early testing of ballot tabulators, showing a picture ID before receiving a ballot or by signing an affidavit which confirms your identity.
After the election, the ballots are "canvassed" to make sure every one was counted accurately.
Bottom line, Engler said no matter who wins, the public should have confidence in the process.
"You know, you can have a local race where it's one or two votes," said Engler. "Well, now there's a way to go in, and everybody can be certain that the reported result is the result, and that's important, and if there was a problem, it's going to be found and it will be corrected."
Posthumus Lyons also wanted to remind voters that there is a 'paper' ballot for every vote cast, and if there is ever a question, those ballots can be audited.
The Kent County Clerk also wanted to remind people that the results they see on election night are 'not' yet official and could change slightly if an error is found. They don't become official until the board of canvassers certifies that they are accurate in the days following the election.