Here's how Michigan election officials decide who makes the November ballot

President Joe Biden’s recent decision to fully focus his time on serving as president in the remaining months of his term is unprecedented in modern history. It raises understandable questions for Michigan voters, heading toward November, about whether this impacts our election processes. But the nature of our work — at the state level or among Michigan’s nearly 1,600 local clerks — requires us to adjust and adapt to these types of seemingly unpredictable changes. And we are ready.  

Michigan’s election officials represent all sides of the political spectrum, but we are of one mind when it comes to ensuring the security, transparency, accuracy and integrity of Michigan’s elections. That includes assuring voters that their respective party’s nominee for president will be on the ballot in November, in accordance with Michigan law.  

The Democratic National Convention, where the presumptive candidate will accept the party’s nomination, is set for Aug. 19-22.  

But the Democratic presidential nominee will actually be officially certified to appear on Michigan’s general election ballot at the Michigan Democratic Party’s state convention a couple of days later. That’s why the first step in sorting out who will appear on Michigan’s ballot as the Democratic presidential nominee is up to the Democratic Party.  

When are the state party conventions? 

Under Michigan law, each party must hold a state party convention by Sept. 6. The Michigan Democratic Party will hold its convention on Aug. 24, well in advance of this deadline. Because their state convention is being held after the national convention, the state convention will be the official forum to place the Democratic nominee on Michigan’s ballot. 

What happens next? 

After the convention delegates nominate a candidate, the party will certify its presidential nominee to the Department of State by the next business day, Aug. 26. Beyond these requirements, the rules and regulations for nominating presidential candidates are governed entirely by the state and national parties. 

With a nominee selected, our department will work with Michigan’s 83 county clerks to make sure they have the names of all certified presidential nominees. The counties then design, print and deliver ballots to local clerks, who ensure only valid voters receive and return the ballots, whether they’re voting absentee, early and in person, or on Election Day.  

What about security? 

As we prepare for every possible contingency, we are hosting local security exercises across the state, bringing together more than 600 local election officials, law enforcement officers, and first responders. The exercises help each community develop plans for disruptions or other challenges as the voting process begins. We have also secured millions of dollars from the federal government for critical physical and cyber security upgrades for local election officials. 

Even with secure procedures governing our elections, and the hard work already done by dedicated clerks across our state, we know some bad actors will still try to spread misinformation about our processes in an attempt to sow doubt and undermine faith in the security and accuracy of our elections.  

We’ve already seen this unfold this election cycle through baseless lawsuits challenging our process for maintaining the state’s voter rolls, even though a federal judge found that Michigan “is consistently among the most active states in the United States in cancelling the registrations of deceased individuals.”  

These bad actors have spread lies about the safeguards we have in place to make sure only U.S. citizens vote in our elections. And they have even sued the state of Michigan for our work to partner with federal agencies to deliver nonpartisan election information to veterans and small business owners. 

But they will only succeed if we disengage. And Michigan voters continue to show we believe in our elections and in democracy. Participation is stronger than ever before — we exceeded statewide turnout records in 2022 and 2020.  

How can I vote? 

Just two years ago, a bipartisan supermajority of Michigan citizens enacted reforms to expand voters’ options to cast a ballot. Starting on Oct. 26, our new nine day in-person early voting period will begin for the presidential election. Every voter in Michigan will have access to a secure ballot dropbox in their own community to return their absentee ballots. And with the help of Michigan.gov/DemocracyMVP, more than 90,000 everyday citizens from across the state have signed up to become poll workers. 

Registered voters can request absentee ballots from their local clerks, and vote in person on Election Day. You can learn more on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.  

This election is and always has been about the voters and their right to have their voices heard.  

America is built on the idea that our citizens yield the sole power to choose our leaders and hold them accountable. In Michigan, this year and every year, citizens can be confident that every valid vote — and only valid votes — will be counted, and the outcome of the 2024 election will reflect the will of Michigan voters. 

Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's Secretary of State. Aghogho Edevbie is deputy secretary of state. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.