Michigan elections official charged with ballot tampering

An elections official and former township clerk in Michigan has been charged with ballot tampering and misconduct in office relating to the August 2020 primary.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office says that Kathy Funk, who had been working as the Flint Township clerk, "purposely broke a seal" on a ballot container, according to a press release on Friday. Funk allegedly broke the seal so that, under Section 168. 871 of Michigan election laws, the ballots inside could not be counted in a recount.

"Election officials must uphold the integrity of their positions," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Funk, as the township clerk, was responsible for overseeing the August 2020 election and was seeking another term as clerk, according to Michigan Live. Funk went on to receive 2,698 votes over her opponent Manya Triplett, who received 2,619, according to official Michigan election results.

Triplett said that she had asked that a recount take place after noticing some suspicious activity at the township's election hall, according to Michigan Live.

Nessel said, "Those who abuse that commitment undermine the very foundation of our democracy," adding that her department is "committed to prosecuting election violations, regardless of the political" affiliation.

Under Section 168.871 of Michigan law, "the board of canvassers conducting a recount" is to recount "all ballots of a precinct using an electronic voting system" unless one or more possible circumstances arise, according to the Michigan Legislature's website.

Certain possible circumstances that would lead to ballots not being recounted include "the seal on the transfer case or other ballot container" being broken or having a different number than recorded in the poll record book, the amount of ballots needing recounting and the amount issued on election day not...

Read More HERE