'Procedure broken' in Saugatuck recount

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Saying "procedures were broken," the Secretary of State's office will investigate the conduct of election workers during a recount of a hotly contested ballot issue in Saugatuck Township in May.

Kelly Chesney with the Secretary of State's office told 24 Hour News 8 election procedures in both Saugatuck Township and Allegan County will be reviewed. Chesney said "procedures were broken" that allowed seals on containers of ballots to be broken.

If the investigation finds something was done wrong, the evidence would be forwarded to local prosecutors. However, the Secretary of State's office cannot force or order a recount. That could only happen if someone challenged the results in court.

This investigation stems over a recount on a ballot proposal that passed by two votes on May 4.

The Allegan County clerk was scheduled to recount the votes on an issue that would allow the county to use taxpayer money to cover ongoing legal fees in their defense over the zoning of the Denison Dunes owned by Aubrey McClendon.

Officials getting ready to do the recount noticed that a tag on a bag of ballots did not match the official log. There was an objection to the recount, and three officials voted on how to proceed.

Two objected to continuing, and the recount was halted.