In Genesee County, Michigan, authorities are currently investigating the discovery of nearly three hundred absentee ballots from the 2020 election found stashed away in a storage unit.
The story unfolded when Thetford Township Supervisor, Rachel Stanke, lodged a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and subsequently exposed her findings to both the township board and local citizens, according to Michigan News Source.
Stanke’s suspicion about the existence of these missing ballots was sparked in 2021.
Initially, she informed both the Michigan Attorney General and the Secretary of State about her concerns.
However, after receiving leads pertaining to unaccounted ballots and the sudden appearance of supposed “old township documents,” she felt the need to involve the Michigan State Police (MSP).
According to the information gleaned from the FOIA request, an unnamed former township worker, had rented the storage facility and unintentionally left the box of ballots there.
Stanke suggests the employee was unaware of the box’s content.
The MSP retrieved the uncounted ballots in August 2022 and is actively pursuing the investigation.
Emphasizing the importance of faith in the election process, Stanke stated, “That’s why I want to bring this to their attention,” adding, “And I want them to be able to make sure that their elections are run fairly and smoothly.”
This sentiment was shared by many in the township, who are now keenly interested in the integrity of future elections.
However, not everyone shares this optimism.
Katie Hicks, who in 2020 lost the race for Thetford Township Clerk by a mere 19 votes, voiced her growing skepticism about upcoming elections.
In her words, “Now this is all coming out and … I’m kind of happy that it’s coming out because the election is right around the corner again,” Hicks expressed her fears about the potential for similar issues in the 2024 elections, adding, “And it concerns me that this will take place again for 2024.”
This revelation serves as a stern reminder of the importance of electoral transparency, and the necessity of addressing any anomalies to ensure trust in the democratic process.
