OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Now that the 2024 presidential election is settled, election officials across the country are working to certify the unofficial results.
Work is underway to verify poll book information and ballot counts for the bipartisan board of canvassers.
In Ottawa County, this process is expected to last a number of days.
Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck said the public is invited to observe the process.
"Ottawa County has over 1,200 individuals who serve as election inspectors, which is just incredible. And we are always opening the door for more people to get involved in that process. It's a great way to see the work that is done firsthand, and you can actually do that work, and it's really, really important," Roebuck said. "On our Board of Canvassers side, these are actually political appointments from the political parties. So the political parties submit three names each to the Board of County Commissioners."
During this canvassing of the votes, workers will record each write-in candidate.
Some write-in candidates Ottawa County voters cast for U.S. President in the 2024 election included:
- Tulsi Gabbard
- Jesus Christ
- God
- Kanye West
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
- Nikki Haley
- Mike Pence
- Dan Cambell
- Ron DeSantis
- Mitt Romney
- Conon O'Brien
- Taylor Swift
- Jeb Bush
- Pedro
- Bernie Sanders
- Peter Sonski
- Liz Cheney
- Claudia De la Cruz
- Jimmy Carter
- Mary Jane
- Yahweh
- None of the above
- Abstain
In order to be eligible to receive votes, a write-in candidate in Michigan has to file a declaration of intent. Otherwise, the write-in vote won't count.
Ottawa County voter turnout was over 75%.
Kent County reported a 71% voter turnout for the Nov. 5 General Election.
In Kent County, more than 1,200 people wrote in a candidate for president in the 2024 General Election.
You can find more election results across Michigan here.