Michigan Municipal Hiring Practices under Scrutiny for Political Imbalance and Transparency Issues. Mirroring Election Law Disputes
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2025
Contact: contact@mifairelections.org
Michigan Fair Elections Institute Uncovers Partisan Imbalances and Transparency Issues in Municipal Election Inspector Hiring
Stockbridge, MI – A new report from the Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI), Party Parity Analysis: Election Inspector Hiring Practices of Michigan Municipalities, reveals significant partisan imbalances in election inspector (poll worker) hiring across eight Michigan municipalities for the November 5, 2024, Presidential Election. The analysis, covering Detroit, Warren, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor City, Ann Arbor Township, Sterling Heights, and Dearborn, with supplementary data from prior elections and Flint’s 2022 primary, shows a consistent pattern of Democratic overrepresentation, violating Michigan’s equal representation laws (MCL 168.674(2) and MCL 168.679a(1)). These findings, coupled with widespread non-compliance with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, raise serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and public trust in Michigan’s electoral process.
Hiring Disparities Undermine Checks-and-Balances
MFEI’s analysis, based on FOIA data, documents stark disparities in election inspector hiring:
Ann Arbor City: 78.7% Democrats (600 of 811) vs. 19.1% Republicans (155).
Detroit: 71.7% Democrats (2,994 of 4,176) vs. 12.1% Republicans (504).
Grand Rapids: 69.8% Democrats vs. 25.6% Republicans.
Flint (2022 Primary): 92% Democrats (442 of 481) vs. 6% Republicans (27).
Sterling Heights: Achieved near-parity with 48.3% Democrats (144 of 298) and 48.3% Republicans (143), the only municipality compliant with Michigan’s parity laws.
No municipality overrepresented Republicans.
In Detroit, the imbalance was compounded when 131 of 143 poll workers identified as Republicans in the August 2024 primary had voted in Democratic primaries, raising questions about their actual affiliation MFEI Report. “Michigan law allows election inspectors from anywhere in the state, so claims of local demographic constraints are invalid,” said Patrice Johnson, MFEI Chairperson.
Michigan’s election laws (MCL 168.674(2), MCL 168.679a(1)) mandate equal representation of Democrats and Republicans to ensure bipartisan oversight, a checks-and-balances system critical to preventing partisan bias and maintaining public confidence. Additional laws (MCL 15.405, MCL 37.2102) prohibit hiring discrimination based on political beliefs, yet the data suggests systemic bias in several municipalities.
State Representative Rachelle Smit, House Speaker Pro Tempore and Election Integrity Committee Chair said, “These numbers are outrageous--12% in Detroit, 19% in Ann Arbor, 21% in Dearborn, 25% in Grand Rapids. This under representation of Republicans will not stand.”
Pattern of Bias
MFEI’s analysis of Detroit’s inspector hiring for the 2020, 2022, and 2024 elections, reveals persistent Republican under representation, with Republican hires comprising only 3% to 12% of total inspectors.
FOIA Non-Compliance Hinders Transparency
FOIA compliance is essential for citizen oversight, and federal law mandates a 20-working-day response www.foia.gov. Still, four municipalities exhibited significant delays: Detroit (115 days), Warren (86 days), Ann Arbor City (52 days), and Grand Rapids (175 days).
In Grand Rapids, City Clerk Joel Hondorp cited a Proton Mail software glitch, saying he found no record of MFEI’s follow-ups after a Nov. 19, 2024, potential fee request. MFEI’s documentation shows it agreed to pay on Nov. 21, 2024. Collaboration with MFEI’s Kent County chapter leader, Dorothy Cribbs, Clerk Hondorp, and legal secretary Alma Echeverria resolved the issue on May 13, 2025.
In contrast, Sterling Heights, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor Township responded within 7, 1, and 2 days, respectively.
Detroit Lawsuit Highlights Stakes
A lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Michigan Republican Party against Detroit Case No. 166973, Michigan Supreme Court alleges a 7.5-to-1 Democrat-to-Republican ratio in the August 2024 primary, violating MCL 168.674(2).
Supported by precedents including case law, Lansing Schools Education Association v. Lansing Board of Education 487 Mich 349, 2010, could enforce parity statewide and impact municipal hiring practices (Legal News).
Jim Runestad, a Michigan Senator and MIGOP Chair, said, “Big cities must honor the law to ensure our voices are heard in fair elections.”
Call to Action
MFEI urges citizens to become election inspectors to restore bipartisan oversight, as demonstrated by PIME’s 2022 Flint advocacy, which led to the city clerk’s resignation The Federalist. Contact your municipal clerk to apply for these paid positions. MFEI recommends stricter enforcement of parity laws, improved FOIA compliance, and expanded monitoring to ensure fair, transparent elections. For more information, visit https://www.mifairelections.org/.
About MFEI
Michigan Fair Elections Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with local chapters and task forces in more than half of Michigan’s counties. MFEI is dedicated to restoring fair elections through education, citizen participation, and advocacy. The organization is committed to promoting election integrity and public trust.
People like you are MFEI's boots-on-the-ground eyes and ears for election integrity. If you have a news tip related to federal, state, or local elections, contact us HERE. (link is mailto: NewsEditor@mifairelections.org)
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