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Wayne County canvasser urges clarity after letter to state board delayed; Bureau says criminal probe ongoing
Summary
A Wayne County canvasser told the Board of State Canvassers a January letter documenting alleged problems in Hamtramck was not delivered promptly, and the Bureau of Elections said access to 37 untabulated ballots is limited while a criminal investigation proceeds in Monroe County.
Lisa Capatina, a Wayne County canvasser, told the Board of State Canvassers on April 3 that a letter her board drafted about the November Hamtramck election—including allegations related to untabulated ballots—was sent to the state but was not delivered until weeks later.
"I did not come then to litigate facts," Capatina said, and added she had assumed the board already had the relevant documentation. She said Wayne County worked "very hard to ensure that all valid votes are counted" and that the 37 untabulated ballots were the result of a split decision at canvass that could not move forward without a majority vote.
Director Brater responded that the Bureau of Elections followed referral procedures and that, as previously noted, the criminal investigation is with the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office after the Attorney General recused. Brater said the Bureau has contacted the deputy clerk in Hamtramck and is discussing training and chain‑of‑custody improvements; access to the ballots remains limited because of ongoing litigation.
"We did follow up on the status of the criminal investigation. It is ongoing," Brater said, and explained the Bureau would consult with the prosecutor's office before sharing additional investigative details.
Board members pressed staff about the apparent delivery delay for the January 13 letter and asked whether the Bureau should have confirmed receipt sooner. Brater apologized for the missed confirmation and said the Bureau should have forwarded and acknowledged the letter sooner. No formal action was taken; members said they would relay the updated status to county canvassers.
The board also discussed whether Hamtramck has an upcoming local contest; staff said there is time before the next local calendar point to address training issues should they be needed. The Bureau emphasized its limited ability to obtain the physical ballots while related litigation and prosecutions are unresolved.
