Public commenter urges county action on election complaints, asks commissioners to use MCL 46.11

During public comment at the start of the May 26 meeting, Stephanie Scott asked the board to act on election-related complaints she said she filed in Hillsdale County.

Scott told the commissioners she filed the first complaint with the sheriffs department and that it was forwarded to the Michigan State Police. She said a second complaint was filed May 18 and that, to her knowledge, no local action followed. Scott reminded the board that MCL 46.11 authorizes county boards to bring county officers before the board and question them under oath and said she had prepared a list of questions county commissioners could use if they chose to pursue an inquiry.

Scott described her understanding that the sheriff had declined to investigate on grounds of a conflict of interest and asked the board to enter her materials into the public record and to consider whether citizens of Hillsdale County deserve legally run elections. Her remarks concluded with a request that the board ensure checks and balances are used to guarantee lawful elections.