Wayne County canvassers urge state review after Hamtramck recount; bureau cites chain-of-custody and training issues
February 23, 2026 | Department of State, Boards and Commissions, Organizations , Executive, Michigan
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Public commenters and county canvassers urged the State Board of Canvassers on Feb. 23 to follow up on alleged irregularities in Hamtramck’s November 2025 election, including rejected absentee ballots and a group of 37 absentee envelopes that were checked in but not tabulated on election night.
Lisa Capatina, who said she served as chair of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, told the board that county canvassers’ role is "ministerial, clerical, and limited to verifying the mathematical accuracy of election returns" and that county boards still can recognize irregularities. She said the Wayne County canvassers had submitted details of the November election to the Bureau and asked the state board to forward those materials to investigative authorities and to provide an update to Wayne County residents.
Director Bridal of the Bureau of Elections described several concerns raised about Hamtramck: restrictions and rules for collecting and returning absent voter applications and ballots, instances of missing or mismatched signatures on return envelopes, and 37 absentee ballots that were checked in but not tabulated on election night and subsequently returned to the clerk’s office. "There should have been better procedures in place at the counting board," he said, and noted that when the envelopes returned to the clerk’s office they were not stored in a secure location, creating a chain-of-custody problem.
Mark Brewer of the law firm Goodman Hacker, who said he represents 37 disenfranchised Hamtramck voters, told the board the Wayne County Board of Canvassers deadlocked 2–2 on counting those ballots and reminded the state board that litigation on that issue is pending in the court of appeals.
Director Bridal said allegations of criminal activity were referred to law enforcement and that the bureau will incorporate any later access to the ballots and envelopes into audits, training and corrective actions when litigation permits. He told the board the bureau will report back with an update at a future meeting.
The board agreed to schedule the Hamtramck materials for an upcoming agenda and to give the matter the discussion time members requested.
Lisa Capatina, who said she served as chair of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, told the board that county canvassers’ role is "ministerial, clerical, and limited to verifying the mathematical accuracy of election returns" and that county boards still can recognize irregularities. She said the Wayne County canvassers had submitted details of the November election to the Bureau and asked the state board to forward those materials to investigative authorities and to provide an update to Wayne County residents.
Director Bridal of the Bureau of Elections described several concerns raised about Hamtramck: restrictions and rules for collecting and returning absent voter applications and ballots, instances of missing or mismatched signatures on return envelopes, and 37 absentee ballots that were checked in but not tabulated on election night and subsequently returned to the clerk’s office. "There should have been better procedures in place at the counting board," he said, and noted that when the envelopes returned to the clerk’s office they were not stored in a secure location, creating a chain-of-custody problem.
Mark Brewer of the law firm Goodman Hacker, who said he represents 37 disenfranchised Hamtramck voters, told the board the Wayne County Board of Canvassers deadlocked 2–2 on counting those ballots and reminded the state board that litigation on that issue is pending in the court of appeals.
Director Bridal said allegations of criminal activity were referred to law enforcement and that the bureau will incorporate any later access to the ballots and envelopes into audits, training and corrective actions when litigation permits. He told the board the bureau will report back with an update at a future meeting.
The board agreed to schedule the Hamtramck materials for an upcoming agenda and to give the matter the discussion time members requested.
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