DETROIT – Nearly 70,000 Detroiters voted in the primary election on Aug. 6.
The argument now is whether about 20,000 of those votes should be thrown out because of how the ballots were counted -- using hash marks or numerals to report results.
More: Detroit ballot battle: State steps in, clerk defends work
With the Wayne County Board of Elections refusing to certify results, the decision on what comes next now goes to the state of Michigan. The state will look at how votes were reported. It will not be a recount.
Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett said Wednesday afternoon that she thinks the city of Detroit was careless.
"On election night it took the city of Detroit two hours to canvass the write-in votes when it usually takes two weeks to canvass. I think that was a rush to judgment," said Garrett.
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said Wednesday morning not to blame her people.
"We work with the spirit of professionalism and integrity. Our goal is to administer elections as a non-partisan entity, and I am proud to say that's what we do," Winfrey said.
Mayoral candidate Mike Duggan, who originally was called the primary winner, says this is another back door trick to undermine his campaign. Candidate Benny Napoleon wants the federal government involved.
Another mayoral candidate, Krystal Crittendon, who finished third in votes, says the whole thing ought to be tossed out.
"We need to have another election, and I am calling on the candidates, even those who prevailed, to make sure that the people who they want to represent, the Detroiters who are out here right now wondering what happened, feel comfortable in knowing the right people got elected," Crittendon said.