Overview

At every election in Michigan, there is a “board of election inspectors” for each election precinct. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.672. Election inspectors (i.e., poll workers) are trained and paid to assist with running elections in Michigan. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683. Local Election Commissions appoint election inspectors at least 21 days (and no more than 40 days) before an election. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(1). The local Election Commission appoints at least three election inspectors to serve in each precinct, including at least one election inspector from each major political party in each precinct. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(2). The Local Election Commission also designates one election inspector as the chairperson. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(2).

Election inspectors are responsible for operating polling places on Election Day — they check in voters, issue ballots, and assist with tabulation. “Election Inspectors’ Manual”. Election inspectors possess broad authority to “maintain peace, regularity, and order” at the polling places and to “enforce obedience” to their instructions during an election. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.678. In addition, election inspectors receive challenges made by electors to the right of an individual to cast a ballot, and election inspectors may make such challenges themselves if the election inspector knows or has good reason to believe that the individual is not a qualified and registered voter of the precinct. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.727. Furthermore, election inspectors issue provisional ballots and contact the City or Township Clerk to verify whether an individual who is issued a provisional ballot is a qualified voter. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.523a. Election inspectors also assist with processing absent voter ballots, both at polling places or Absent Voter Counting Boards, depending on the jurisdiction. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.765a.

In addition, in elections at which the ballots are counted and certified at the precinct, the local Election Commission appoints an additional one or more election inspectors to serve as “receiving boards.” Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.679a(1). The election inspectors serving at the precinct deliver to the receiving board a sealed ballot container of the voted ballots and, in a separate sealed envelope, the pollbook and statement of returns. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.679a(2). The election inspectors designated to the receiving board open the sealed envelope and review the pollbook and statement of returns to determine whether the ballot container is properly sealed and the number of voters recorded in the pollbook equals the number of ballots issued, as shown by the statement of returns. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.679a(3).

Election inspectors must conduct their duties in a nonpartisan manner and are prohibited from attempting to persuade an individual to vote for or against any particular candidate, party ticket, or ballot measure while in the polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to the building containing the polling place. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.744(1).

Election inspectors are subject to mandatory training and must have, within the last two years, attended a training or passed an examination given by the local Election Commission. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683.

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of election inspectors are:

1. Operating polling places on Election Day. “Election Inspectors’ Manual”.
2. Enforcing peace and order at polling places. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.678.
3. Receiving challenges and making challenges to individuals’ right to cast a ballot. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.727.
4. Issuing provisional ballots on Election Day. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.523a.
5. Processing absent voter ballots. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.765a.
6. Serving as “receiving boards”. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.679a.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• **Appointed: ****The local Election Commission appoint election inspectors at least 21 days (and no more than 40 days) before an election. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(1). The local Election Commission must appoint at least three election inspectors to serve in each precinct, including at least one election inspector from each major political party in each precinct. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(1). The County Chair of a major political party may submit a list of individuals interested in serving as election inspectors to the City or Township Clerks in that county. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.673a. The local Election Commission may (but is not required to) appoint an individual on a submitted list. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(1).
• Qualifications and Restrictions:
  • An election inspector must be a qualified and registered voter in Michigan. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.677(1).
  • Election inspectors must “have a good reputation” and have “sufficient education and clerical ability to perform the duties of the office.” Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.677(1).
  • The first three election inspectors appointed at a precinct must be at least 18 years old, but any additional election inspectors appointed can be 16 or 17 years old. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.677(4).
  • An election inspector cannot have been convicted of a felony or an election crime. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.677(3)
  • In addition, an election inspector cannot have an “immediate family member” (defined as father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, or any relative residing in the same household) running as a candidate for any office in the election. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.677(3).
  • Election inspectors must have, within the last two years, attended a training or passed an examination given by the local Board of Election Commissioners. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683.
• Training: The County Clerk must hold a mandatory training for all election inspectors within 20 days before the primary, special, and general election. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683. Election inspectors must attend unless excused for good cause. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683. Cities or townships with a population of 10,000 or more may conduct their own training, and election inspectors who attend city or township training are not required to attend the county training. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.683.
• Vacancy: If a vacancy occurs before Election Day, the local Election Commission appoints another properly qualified individual as election inspector. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(5). If the office of election inspector chairperson becomes vacant on Election Day, the remaining election inspectors designate one of the election inspectors as chairperson. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.674(5). If there is a vacancy while polls are open, the voters present may choose a voter to serve as an election inspector for the rest of the election, provided that not more than two of the election inspectors are of the same political party. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.675.