By Shelly Stewart
Staff Writer
Clerks across the state of Michigan are working on an unusual Freedom of Information Act Request. The request asks for all ballots from the November 2016 election.
The estimated cost for the FOIA request is $2,293 for Brandon Township.
“I don’t want the burden to go to the taxpayers,” said Brandon Township clerk Candee Allen. “They’re asking to give it for free.”
In Brandon Township, the total amount of ballots cast on election day is 8,387, and a total number of absentee ballot envelopes of 1,989.

There was no reasoning given for the request, and all of the letters received were signed only ‘Emily.’
The voter’s rights activist non-profit Priorities USA Foundation said in a statement that they are behind the FOIA requests on Tuesday, and had contracted a third party to file the requests.
“It’s a tough time with the election coming up, but we will do what we have to do,” said Allen.
“I estimated this would be 18 hours total. We only have one copier in the building for everyone.”
In addition to the hours worked, Allen says that the request will use over 10,000 sheets of paper, and they have requested that ‘Emily’ pay half of the cost of the request up front, then the other half before everything is sent out. According to the Associated Press, the foundation filed the requests for research purposes, looking to find any discrepancies in ballots and if certain precincts disproportionately affect certain communities.
“It’s lucky they contacted when they did, because the retention on ballots is 22 months,” said Allen. “If they had filed the request after September 8, all of the ballots would have been gone.”
Groveland Township Clerk Pam Mazich asked for an extension on the FOIA.
“By law we have to reply to all (FOIA) requests,” said Mazich. “We have until Sept. 12 to hear back on that request. While costs are still unknown at this time I would estimate $1,500. And, I will require 50 percent down and will wait until that check clears before moving forward. It will not go back on the taxpayers.”
Mazich said there are about 4,200 voters in the Groveland Township.
“In the 2016 presidential election there was a 90 percent turnout,” she said. “We are a very small office and it would take at least a week of work. Both sides of the ballot would need to be copied. We may have to rent a copier due to the wear and tear on the equipment.”