Two members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers are looking to reverse their decision again after certifying the election results Tuesday evening.
Monica Palmer, chair of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, and William Hartmann – one of two Republicans on the Board – signed and filed affidavits Wednesday night demanding to rescind their "yes" certification votes.
"I fully believe the Wayne County vote should not be verified," Palmer said in an affidavit. "The Wayne County election had serious process flaws which deserve investigation. I continue to ask for information to assure Wayne County voters that these elections were conducted fairly and accurately.”
According to Hartmann in his affidavit, “late in the evening, I was enticed to agree to certify based on the promise that a full and independent audit would take place. I would not have agreed to the certification but for the promise of an audit.”
After two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially caused a deadlock Tuesday, they eventually agreed to certify the county's vote on the condition of an audit. The motion to hold another vote came following hours of public comments condemning Republican canvassers' decisions to vote against the certification.
"This vote was followed by public derision from our two democrat colleagues. I, and Monica Palmer, who also voted against certification, were berated and ridiculed by members of the public and other Board members," Hartman state in the affidavit. "This conduct included specious claims that I was racially motivated in my decision. This public ostracism continued for hours during which time we were not provided an opportunity to break for dinner and were not advised that we could depart and resume the hearing on another date."
The first vote tied 2 to 2 along party lines. But just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the board filed a motion and voted to certify the results under the stipulation that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson does a comprehensive audit of the election in the county.
The Board of State Canvassers is set to meet Monday – in a hearing that is open to the public – to certify the total number of votes cast in the November general election.
In December, all of Michigan's electors are expected to cast their votes for Joe Biden who won the popular vote in the Great Lakes State by over 150,000 votes.
View the affidavits below:
Palmer Affidavit by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
Hartmann Affidavit by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
