The GOP group responsible for an ongoing recount at hundreds of precincts across the state is being accused of disrupting the process, prompting a warning from state election officials.
On Friday, Michigan Elections Director Jonathan Brater sent a letter to Daniel Hartman, an attorney who represents both Jerome Jay Allen, the Bloomfield Township man who filed for the recount, and Election Integrity Force (EIF), the group that helped to finance it.
Citing an incident in Marquette in which an EIF challenger had to be escorted out of a recount operation, Brater said the individual demanded to see both sides of the ballots, even though the recount strictly involved Proposals 2 and 3, which appear on the reverse side. When an official challenge was denied, the person in question became disruptive.
“After he refused the direction of Bureau of Elections staff to leave the recount,” stated Brater, “it was necessary for law enforcement to be called to the recount site and escort him out.”
Brater added that EIF challengers had also reportedly touched ballots and ballot containers and attempted to access restricted areas.
“To the extent challengers are engaging in this behavior, they run the risk of hindering or delaying the conduct of the recount,” wrote Brater, who warned that the Bureau of Elections “will not permit disruptive behavior.”
A request for comment was made by Michigan Advance to Hartman, but was not returned.
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