Warren City Clerk Sonja Buffa has decided not to pre-process absentee ballots ahead of Election Day, a move that has raised concerns about potential delays in the election results for Michigan's third-largest city. This decision deviates from the actions of other large municipalities in Macomb County, as reported by The Detroit News. A 2022 state law allows clerks in cities or townships with populations over 5,000 to count absentee ballots eight days before the election, but Buffa has expressed her priority is accuracy over speed.
Despite the worry from Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini that results could be delayed, Buffa stands by her decision, emphasizing the importance of the integrity in the election process. "I have been administering elections for 24 years and my staff has always demonstrated accuracy and precision with elections. Accuracy is the number one priority for me, and then speed is second. It is for these reasons that I have chosen not to preprocess," Buffa said in a statement obtained by CBS News. She argued that pre-processing for eight days would actually take more time due to the additional requirements it entails.
Forlini, on the other hand, has expressed his eagerness for an efficient election, noting Macomb's significant role in the upcoming election as Michigan remains a battleground state. He said, "Macomb is the epicenter of elections this upcoming November." Concerns include the potential for tabulation issues and equipment malfunctions on Election Day, which, according to Forlini, would be better addressed ahead of time. "It’s going to be razor thin, razor thin. We don’t need to be the last one reporting," he cautioned in a statement relayed by WXYZ.
Meanwhile, Buffa is focused on maintaining the sanctity of the election process, citing concerns over pre-processing that it "opens the door for results to get leaked or compromised." Buffa's commitment to securing a safe and accurate election was echoed in her communication with media outlets. She also reassured the public that however the scrutiny her office faces, swift results are a goal, adding, "I also want the results quickly and we are committed to accomplishing that task in addition to keeping the election accurate, safe and secure. WE CAN DO THIS!" as noted in her email statement covered by WXYZ. While the differing viewpoints on the handling of absentee ballots in Warren may affect the timing of election results, Buffa and Forlini both share a commitment to a secure and accurate voting process.
