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Benson says Michigan results will be certified

"Mounds of Absentee Ballots" by lancefisher is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Republicans on the Wayne County vote-canvassing board say they have second thoughts about certifying election results. Michigan’s Democratic secretary of state says it’s too late to reverse the decision.

GOP canvassers said in notarized statements they felt pressured to reverse their votes and certify the results after initially refusing. One of the Republican canvassers also told The Detroit Free Press she got a phone call from President Donald Trump following Tuesday’s rancorous meeting that included hours of public comments. Republicans now argue the county’s results are not final. But Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says it’s too late.

“We’re going to protect the will of the voters and protect the security of our elections,” said Benson.

The next step is for the Michigan Board of State Canvassers to meet Monday to certify the statewide results. But it’s not too late for Republicans or the Trump campaign to seek a recount or to file more lawsuits.

Multiple news outlets report that state House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey have been invited to visit the White House tomorrow (FRI).