Having known since March that November’s General Election was going to see an influx of absentee and mail-in ballots, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), was forced to admit that her state is understaffed to the point election results may not be definitive on election night.
In an interview on CBS’s Face The Nation, the governor was asked if the State of Michigan, a critical swing state in the 2020 election, will be able to report definitive election results on election night. Whitmer’s answer was less than definitive itself.
Referring to Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, Whitmer said she has been informed that the state is expecting delays in counting votes. This necessarily means the state failed to help local authorities prepare for receiving the additional influx of absentee and mail-in ballots caused by the COVID pandemic.
“Michigan will be able to announce results, but we are not going to have artificial deadlines set by people with political agendas,” Whitmer said. “It will be soon after polls closed. I’m not going to put a number on it, but we’re going to get it right.”
“We should be prepared for this to be closer to an election week as opposed to an Election Day,” Benson said to reporters earlier. “The bottom line is that we are not going to have the full results and accounting of all of our ballots on election night. We already know that.”
The “new normal” — you don’t deserve to know the winner on election night https://t.co/2CBtbUh1XM
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 11, 2020
Whitmer has faced intense criticism for her handling of the COVID pandemic in her state. Under Whitmer, Michigan counts itself among one of the most restricted states where the COVID event is concerned.
Whitmer and Benson had close to eight months to prepare for the General Election, including facilitation of additional poll and election board workers.
