Local officials educate on elections process in an effort to increase trust, transparency

Speakers hoped to build trust in the system by answering questions directly from community members and describing different measures put in place to protect it.

April 30, 2024 | Joshua Alburtus | WZZM 13 (ABC)

LOWELL, Mich. — “I want more than anything for our voters to have faith in that system, to have trust in the process and confidence in the outcomes of the election,” Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumous Lyons said as she spoke to community members in Lowell Tuesday night.

Lyons was one of several local election officials and experts gathered at the local Kent District Library branch as part of a meeting hosted by the group Keep Our Republic to tell the community how the election process works.

“How do we build that group of trusted, local individuals so when mom or dad or grandpa and grandpa see an ad, get that phone call, they can turn to someone and say ‘Is this real? How do I fact-check this and how do I know this election is secure? How do I know my vote is being counted, it’s being certified?'” Keep Our Republic Senior Advisor John Helmholdt said. “And then we’re going to have a clear end of the election where the results are certified and fact-based.”

The event included local clerks who oversee local elections as well as Jo Demarco, a local poll worker who credited the chance to see the system for her confidence in local practices. …

“We can always do better, we should strive to do better,” Lyons said. “But I’m telling you, our elections in Kent County, our process in Michigan helps to ensure that our elections are secure, transparent, fair and accurate.”
-Lisa Posthumous Lyons, Kent County Clerk