Bellaire MI: Kearney Township posts July 6 inspector meeting, July 16 test

Kearney Township has posted two election-process notices for Bellaire-area voters ahead of the Aug. 4, 2026 primary, including an election inspectors approval meeting and a public accuracy test of its optical-scan tabulation system.

Key dates and where to go

Both notices list the same location: Kearney Township Hall, 4820 Aero Park Drive, Bellaire, MI.

• Monday, July 6, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.: Election Commission meeting to approve election inspectors for the Aug. 4 primary.
• Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.: Public accuracy test of the township’s AccuVote optical-scan voting machines and ballots.

What the township says the public accuracy test is for

The township’s notice says the public accuracy test is meant to demonstrate that the computer program used to tabulate votes meets Michigan’s legal requirements.

What Michigan rules require residents to see (high level)

Michigan’s rules lay out what must happen during the public accuracy test and what the election commission must do if problems are detected. In practical terms, the test is more than “watching machines”—it’s a structured, rule-driven check using official testing materials and predetermined results.

• Who runs it: The election commission conducts the public accuracy test. The clerk (or clerk’s chairperson) leads the process for the commission.
• Room capacity limits: The clerk may limit how many people can attend based on room capacity.
• Official program/test deck: Initial testing must use the official test deck and programs prepared under the commission’s direction.
• Test on the actual tabulator: Each program and test deck must be tested on the tabulator that will be used for the election.
• Accessible voting devices: The commission must test accessible voting devices as part of the public accuracy test.
• Predetermined results: The test uses the chart of predetermined results so outcomes can be checked against expectations.
• If errors show up: The commission must determine the cause, correct the error, and make an errorless count for the precincts before certifying the test results.
• Certification: The commission must certify the accuracy of the test.
• Sealing and security: Programs, test decks, certified results, and predetermined results must be secured in an approved container and sealed so the container can’t be opened without breaking the seal.

Why the notice has to be posted in advance

Michigan law requires that public notice of the time and place of the electronic tabulation test be given at least 48 hours before the test (as part of the legal framework for transparency around pre-election equipment testing).

What to watch for if you attend July 16

If you plan to attend, focus on whether the test is being run with the official program/test deck and predetermined results, whether accessible voting devices are included, and how the commission handles the rule requirement for error correction and an errorless count before certification.

Sources

• Kearney Township posted notices (July 6 inspectors meeting; July 16 public accuracy test) — Kearney Township Hall, 4820 Aero Park Drive, Bellaire
• Michigan Admin Code (Elections): R 168.778 Public accuracy test
• Michigan Compiled Laws: MCL 168.798 Testing of electronic tabulating equipment; notice; method; sealing