GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids voting equipment passed its public accuracy test Monday, Oct. 12, ahead of early voting for the Nov. 3 general election.
City Clerk Joel Hondorp led the test at a city-owned warehouse building along the river, rolling dice to pick at random which tabulators to check. Machines were lined up one for each of the city 59 precincts, and staff also tested early voting tabulators and voter assist terminals.
Each machine first printed a tape showing zero votes. Staff then ran a test deck of ballots, some with intentional errors, and compared the totals with the expected results. Everything checked out. Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons helped check results, and former Gov. John Engler observed.
State law requires the tests at least five days before early voting. In Grand Rapids, early voting sites include GRPS University at 1400 Fuller NE and Ottawa Hills High School at 2055 Rosewood SE, and drop boxes stand at city library branches.
