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The oversight committees in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature recently voted to issue a subpoena for elections records from the Michigan Bureau of Elections, a move that Sen. Kevin Daley (R-Lum) said fulfills the basic responsibilities of the Legislature.

Daley said that some of the concerns that have led Michiganders to question the integrity of the recent election could have been dealt with ahead of time if Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had been willing to work with the Legislature, according to the MiSenateGOP website.

"Earlier this year, in the peak of the coronavirus threat and subsequent concerns about the 2020 election, I introduced legislation that would have aided in ensuring a fair, secure election, but this measure was unfortunately vetoed by the governor,” he told MiSenateGOP. “It is unfortunate that we could have had an additional safety net in place that could have mitigated some of the concerns we’re currently facing, but, in the meantime, I will continue to work with my colleagues and legal team to ensure an honest and fair election and that all legal votes are counted.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer | stock photo

Daley said that he has a duty to respond when his constituents have concerns regarding even the possibility of fraud in an election.

“The integrity of our elections should be a priority for every Michigander — and many across my district have expressed their concerns over the situation we currently find ourselves in,” Daley said, according to MiSenateGOP. “The purpose of convening the House and Senate oversight committees is not to overturn the results of an election, but rather to review state processes and pursue opportunities for improvement, if necessary. The committee will use subpoena authority to ensure compliance with requests for records regarding the elections process.”

Daley said the oversight committees in both houses are the appropriate venues in which to hold discussions that could assist in improving the process for future elections.