Monthly Alteration of QVF Voter History – Post-Election (MI)

Analysis of sequential snapshots of Michigan’s Qualified Voter File (QVF) reveals that post-election alterations of voter history occurred on a monthly basis. Alterations include method of voting (absentee, election day), voting jurisdiction, and whether or not a voter voted in a given election. Michigan law requires preservation of voter records in the QVF for five years, and federal law requires 22-month preservation of all election records. The mass deletion of voter history entries – whether or not it was technically authorized – destroys the foundational audit record that would allow cross-referencing of ballots cast against individual voter participation.