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Clerks push back on proposed centralization of logic and accuracy testing; Department of State raises procedural concerns
Summary
Supporters of HB 4602 told the House Committee on Election Integrity the bill protects local clerks' authority to run public logic and accuracy tests and prevents a single state‑selected vendor from centrally controlling test decks; the Michigan Department of State said it has a contract with BallotIQ and urged careful drafting to avoid limiting
House Bill 4602, introduced by Chair Schmidt, would restrict the secretary of state from prohibiting local election authorities from using lawful sources to create predetermined result charts and test decks for pre‑election logic and accuracy testing.
"This decentralized approach has served our state well," Chair Schmidt said in support of HB 4602, arguing the bill would "preserve local choice" and prevent an exclusive arrangement with a single vendor.
Multiple county and municipal clerks testified in favor. Chris Swope, Lansing city clerk, described the logic and accuracy process and said he typically marks and runs the ballots locally so "it's a very locally run process." Swope and others said a centralized, state‑mandated single vendor could reduce transparency, increase cost, and make public explanation of testing harder.
"...it was much less understandable…
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