The city clerk for Michigan's third largest city, Warren, is in the process of securing another ballot tabulator after opting out of utilizing a new state law that allows for pre-processing of absentee ballots before Election Day. Sonja Buffa, who has been overseeing elections in Warren for 24 years, recently requested funds to purchase an additional high-speed scanner and tabulator for the city.
Michigan introduced several new voting measures in 2022 to facilitate early voting and expedite ballot processing. One of these measures permits cities or townships with a population of at least 5,000 to process and tabulate absentee ballots eight days prior to Election Day.
Buffa explained that her decision not to pre-process absentee ballots was motivated by a commitment to prioritizing accuracy over speed. She expressed concerns about the logistical challenges associated with an eight-day pre-processing period, citing the need for extra personnel, time, storage, and potential risks of data leaks or compromises.
However, Buffa's stance has sparked frustration within Macomb County, with some officials, including Alysa Diebolt, the Macomb County Democratic Committee Chair, advocating for a balance between efficiency and accuracy in ballot processing.
Following a request from Buffa, the Warren City Council was asked to approve $140,000 for the purchase of a new tabulator to supplement the city's existing machines. Subsequently, Buffa decided to rent a scanner and tabulator for evaluation purposes before considering a permanent acquisition.
Commenting on Buffa's decision, Warren City Council spokesperson Mindy Moore suggested that the move may have been prompted by external pressure and criticism. Buffa aims to have the majority of election data loaded into her management software by midnight on election night for submission to the county clerk's office.
