Thread by @KristenClarkeJD

Happening now - Jonathan Brater introduces proposal to certify the results of #Michigan's November 3rd election.

Notes that results includes not just the presidency but state and local offices as well. (An important point as the baseless fraud claims would impact every office)

Heather Meingast, Assistant Attorney General, representing Michigan's Sec'y of State, notes that there is nothing that provides for a pre-certification audit.

Aaron Van Langevelde is asking for public testimony before taking up the motion to certify Michigan's election results.

We are in for a long hearing.

First public witness is Christopher Thomas who has been working with Detroit. Notes that Detroit had 174,000 mail ballots representing 68% of the vote. Notes desire to vote by mail during pandemic was palpable.

Vice Chair Aaron Van Langevelde, one of 2 Republicans on the MI Board of State Canvassers indicates that they "have a duty to certify". He must stand by this core principal as the hearing progresses.

Christopher Thomas tells Norman Shinkle "you can't vote 'No'"

Tells Board: You are the end game. They are the pinnacle of democracy. Democracy is a zero sum game of winners and losers. 5.5M have voted. Tens of thousands worked the polls.

Time to vote. Delay is not an option.

It's clear that a fully maskless Norman Shinkle is bent on finding a reason to delay the certification of Michigan's election results.

Christopher Thomas is making clear the very ministerial role that the Michigan State Board of Canvassers plays at this stage. They do not have investigative power or police power.

Daniel Baxter, elections consultant for Detroit, notes extensive efforts made to recruit new people to help tabulate absentee ballots amid the pandemic. Recruitment efforts included the Divine 9, churches, Detroit employees, along with higher pay and extensive training.

A reminder that the attacks on #Michigan's election have focused on Detroit. The racist rhetoric and baseless lawsuits sought to cancel out Black votes and cast aspersions on Black officials who worked the polls.

Daniel Baxter is a strong voice representing Detroit today.

Jeff Timmer, former leader of Michigan's Republican Party, tells the Michigan State Board of Canvassers to do their job and certify the results.

Susan Nash, City Clerk of Livonia, urges State Bd of Canvassers to certify results.

Livonia is about 91% white and located in Wayne County.

Monica Palmer of the Wayne Cty Bd of Canvassers, at one point proposed certifying results in places like Lavonia but NOT Detroit.

Worth noting that every witness, so far (2:30), has UNANIMOUSLY urged the Michigan State Board of Canvassers to certify the results.

Several hundred witnesses to go.

I heard that one of you is planning to vote NO.

"I find this shocking and disgusting."

Choosing not to certify would mean that democracy is dying in Michigan.

It would mean buying into idiotic and unfounded conspiracy theories.

-Barb Byrum, Ingham County Bd of Elections

Norman Shinkle suggests Republican poll workers were turned away.

Janice Winfrey shoots this down. She notes that they had Republicans, they actively recruited Republicans and that they eventually had to stop recruiting when they ran out of time to train new people.

Monica Palmer--> the one who proposed certifying all results except those in Detroit is up. This was a racist and offensive period.

She says "in heat of the moment" she didn't realize that audits can't happen before certification. Says she wouldn't have certified.

🚨BREAKING: Aaron Van Langevelde makes clear that he will be voting YES in support of certifying the Michigan election results. Notes Board must follow the law as written and must not exercise power it does not have. Board has a duty to certify the results. #Michigancertification