In Lansing, Michigan, a local Republican election official, Robert Froman, faced a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) after stating that he would not certify the results of the November presidential election if he believed it was not conducted properly. Froman’s comments came in the midst of increasing concerns about canvassing board members, particularly those who support Donald Trump, refusing to certify election results if the former president narrowly lost, potentially causing chaos and court intervention. In a sworn affidavit signed on Monday, Froman ultimately agreed to certify the election results based solely on the vote returns, as required by Michigan law. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Froman’s subsequent submission of the signed statement.
It is important to note that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, as confirmed by a detailed review conducted by Republican lawmakers in the Michigan Senate. The report concluded that Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the state and urged the attorney general to investigate those making baseless allegations about the election results. Despite this, Trump and his allies had targeted election boards in an attempt to block certification in 2020. This included pressuring members of various canvassing boards, such as in Wayne County and at the state level, to delay certification. These efforts were part of a larger strategy to overturn the election results, culminating in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized that county boards of canvassers have a ministerial duty to sign off on election results based on the clerks’ canvassing of votes and procedures. She praised the ACLU of Michigan for taking legal action against Froman’s initial refusal to certify the election results, highlighting the importance of following established procedures. A law passed in 2023 in Michigan clarifies that canvassers must certify election results based solely on the returns, emphasizing that it is a non-discretionary duty.
While the situation with Froman has been resolved with his agreement to certify the election results, there have been other instances in Michigan where Republican officials attempted to circumvent their duties. In May, two Republican members of a county canvassing board in the state’s Upper Peninsula initially refused to certify the results of an election that led to the recall of three GOP members of the county commission. However, they eventually relented after receiving a letter from the state Elections Director reminding them of their responsibilities and warning them of the consequences of failing to certify. These incidents underscore the importance of upholding election integrity and following established procedures in order to maintain trust in the democratic process.
