MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Democracy Defense Project Michigan board member former Lt. Gov. John Cherry joined former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette in a bipartisan panel event Tuesday evening at Central Michigan University on Michigan elections, democracy and the importance of voting.
Cherry, a Democrat, and Schuette, a Republican, spoke to an audience ofstudents, staff, educators and the public about trust and confidence in Michigan’s elections. They spoke about safeguards that keep Michigan’s electionssafe, secure and transparent, and the importance of maintaining civility in the face of political disagreements.
“The Democracy Defense Project is focused on sharing information with Michigan voters about the security and transparency of our elections, through strong safeguards that are administered by local elections professionals who are members of our communities and our neighbors,” Cherry said. “Michigan’s elections are highly decentralized and run by county and local clerks, who all follow the same checks and balances that ensure electionsare accurate. We’re excited to continue visiting campuses like Central Michigan University to help build confidence and trust in our elections.”
Cherry said Michigan elections officials follow state laws promoting security and safety. Every voting machine is tested prior to each election to ensure the machine is operating correctly and reporting the correct results, and all paper ballots are stored in locked facilities with a documented chain of custody to prevent tampering. Voting machines in Michigan are also not connected tothe internet so they cannot be accessed or hacked online.
“What makes our democracy strong and resilient is the will of those in positions of power to uphold the law and to put the Constitution ahead of narrow interests. This applies to Democrats, Republicans and Independents,” Schuettesaid. “During my time in Congress, as Michigan’s attorney general and then as a judge sworn to be impartial in matters of the law, I had the privilege of seeing how fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law can help put the common good ahead of partisan interests. On the 250th anniversary of the signing ofthe Declaration of Independence, we should rededicate ourselves to continued engagement in our democracy and civil discourse, even in the face ofdisagreement.”
Schuette has a record of holding members of his own party accountable, including investigating a former U.S. congressman from Michigan while he was attorney general following complaints from the Michigan elections bureau in 2012. Schuette said at the time: “We will follow the facts without fear or favor. It’s our duty to maintain the integrity of our election process.”
“Central Michigan University is proud to host leaders from both sides of the aisle who know the facts and can talk from their firsthand experiences about the foundational importance of citizen participation in our democracy, through voting and peaceful civil discourse,” said panel moderator Dan Kildee, CMU‘s Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government and a former U.S. congressman. “As we go and vote later this year and for years to come, I encourage my fellow Americans to continue staying engaged in our government so we can keep our democracy strong for future generations.”
Part of CMU’s Griffin Forums, the bipartisan panel with Cherry and Schuette also included Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons, a Democrat, and Hillsdale County Clerk Abe Dane, a Republican. The Griffin Forums are sponsored by the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government within the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service with support from the Philip A. Hart and William G. Milliken Endowed Speaker Series for Integrity in Politics at Central Michigan University.
Before serving as Michigan’s 62nd lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2011, Cherryserved as the Minority Leader in the Michigan Senate and as a state representative. Schuette served as Michigan’s 53rd attorney general from 2011-2019. He also served as a U.S. congressman representing Michigan’s 10th district from 1985-1991.
In addition to Cherry, the DDP’s bipartisan board members in Michigan are: Former Congressman Mike Bishop, a Republican, former Gov. Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, and former Gov. John Engler, a Republican.
Additional facts about Michigan elections that are required by law or already widely practiced include:
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Requiring all absentee ballot drop boxes to be monitored by video and thatauthorized clerk personnel collect any ballots daily.
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Requiring that for close results, ballots are both machine-counted and then hand-counted to verify accuracy.
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Requiring city and township clerks to update their voter rolls and remove all inactive or incorrect registrations on a regular basis.
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Requiring that the number of ballots issued balances with the number ofabsentee ballots and in-person votes cast.
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Requiring state election officials to use multi-state databases to check for duplicate voter registration in multiple states.
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Requiring that the signature on absentee ballots matches the signature in the official voting book before it can be counted.
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Requiring every voter in Michigan that votes in person to present identification before casting a ballot, or if they forget their ID, requiring them to sign a legal affidavit attesting to who they are.
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Not allowing ballots to be counted that are postmarked after election day unless they are military or overseas ballots.
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Requiring that Republican, Democratic and other voter interest groups are allowed to assign credentialed individuals to each polling location and absentee counting board to monitor the voting process and challenge any irregularities.
Published: Apr 15, 2026
