Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast will oversee elections in Adams Township, following the seizure of voting equipment by Michigan State Police.
Officers executed a search warrant at the Adams Township Hall on Oct. 29, recovering voting equipment that went missing last week, according to Fox 47 News. This comes after Adams Township clerk Stephanie Scott was relieved of her duties on Oct. 25, according to letters from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office.
Benson’s office removed Scott from her post after she refused to hand over election equipment to the authorities. According to a letter from Benson’s office, Scott failed to conduct accuracy testing and refused to allow the company Permit Hart Intercivic, Inc., to perform “preventative maintenance” on the voting tabulator.
“I am directing you to refrain from administering any elections held in Adams Township, including the upcoming November 2, 2021 election,” Benson’s office wrote. “These functions will be fulfilled by the Hillsdale County Clerk or her designee until further notice.”
According to Bridge Michigan, Scott said, “The county clerk’s office and now the Secretary of State are demanding I drop off my machine for unfettered access, and God only knows doing what to it.”
State officials demanded that Scott “correct numerous false statements you have made about the conduct of elections in Michigan” in an Oct. 15 letter. In the same letter, officials warned Scott of “consequences should you continue to fail to perform your statutory duties.”
Before the tabulator was retrieved by authorities, some officials were concerned that the election equipment had been tampered with, according to Bridge Michigan.
Hillsdale election officials will be conducting a canvass of this year’s November 2 election results on Thursday morning at 9 a.m, according to Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast.
“This is an open meeting and we encourage all members of the public to attend,” she said.