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Kent County Board of Canvassers certifies 1,733 ballot containers, decertifies 72
Summary
Over five days in April the Kent County Board of Canvassers inspected ballot storage across the county, certifying 1,733 containers and decertifying 72 that were deficient or removed from the state-approved list; Grand Rapids City accounted for 506 certified and 34 decertified containers.
The Kent County Board of Canvassers certified 1,733 election storage containers and decertified 72 after multi-day inspections conducted April 21–30, 2026, the boards written record shows.
Chair JoAnn King convened the canvass on April 21. The board, which lists Vice Chair Jane Uyl and members Judy Jones and Pam Richter among those present, moved and approved revised minutes for Nov. 18, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026 before beginning the inspections.
The inspections were conducted over five days and were organized by jurisdiction. Day-one inspections included Grandville, Wyoming and Walker; later days covered more townships and cities across Kent County. Grand Rapids City accounted for the largest single jurisdiction tally, with 506 containers certified and 34 decertified. Kentwood had 61 certified and 8 decertified; other jurisdictions with multiple decertifications included Plainfield (5) and Solon (5). The boards summary lists 72 containers removed from the countys approved inventory either because they were deficient or because the container model no longer appears on the Michigan Bureau of Elections list of Approved Ballot Containers.
Elections Director Mike Sullivan and Clerk/Register Lisa Posthumus Lyons were listed in the meeting record; Elections Department staff Abby Hayden and intern Josh McCready were present only for the April 30 session. No members of the public spoke during the canvass series, according to the record.
The board formally closed the canvass on April 30; Pam Richter moved to adjourn and Jane Uyl seconded the motion, and the meeting concluded that day.
The boards certification determines which container models the county will accept for storing ballots in future elections; the record submitted at the close of the canvass lists each jurisdictions certified and decertified counts and will guide elections administration and procurement going forward.
