Lapeer County Clerk Theresa Spencer brought one of the county’s Dominion tabulators and other election equipment to Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting to explain to the Board of Commissioners and concerned members of the public how the equipment and reporting process works for the elections. Photo by Krystal Moralee

LAPEER — Around 20 people attended the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday to hear Clerk Theresa Spencer talk about the Dominion voting machines. The issue had been brought forth at the July 15 meeting by several members of the public who are not confident in the accuracy of the results of the November 2020 election.

“I welcome questions, that’s the way we understand,” said Spencer. “What I’m hearing from the outside world is distrust in the equipment. What I’m hearing now is great concern about this. That there’s something in them that is breachable.”

Spencer had brought one of the Dominion tabulators and ballot collection boxes as well as a printer and a ballot-marking device to the Commission Chambers, and she walked through how all the equipment works and the reporting process for election night, so those present could understand. She also went through the audit process that is undertaken in Lapeer County, and invited anyone present to be part of the process, or to contact her for more information.

“I, above all, want election integrity,” she said.

Harry Akers, who has volunteered as part of the Board of Canvassers, spoke briefly during public time to say he believes in the validity of Lapeer County’s results, as he’d been a part of the process, and others who were present indicated that they, too, feel confident about local results. However, the distrust still persists, and others would like to see changes in the system. Anna Pierce, for example, said a statewide audit is a right, because even if people are confident in the accuracy of the local reporting, anything that happens out-of-county could negate the impact of those local votes. Concerns were also presented by members of the public about the security of the ballot drop boxes outside the township offices, the absentee voter applications that were received prior to the election — including those for people who no longer lived at the address — and mail-in voting.

After hearing from Spencer and the public, the board continued with the meeting. Action was taken to:

• Approve the request for the Health Department’s annual Alcohol Information and Counseling Center’s policy and procedure changes.

• Allow Administration to move forward with a request for proposal for a vendor to come in and perform imaging services, as the vacant former Register of Deeds building should no longer be used for the storage of files, due to space limitations and the fact that conditions in the building are damaging to the files.

• Give permission to T-Mobile to update their new frequencies filings with the FCC/FAA. T-Mobile is co-located on the county’s 911 tower.

All motions made at a Committee of the Whole meeting are tentative until the final vote at the following week’s full board meeting.