Whitmer says Michigan votes will not be announced by ‘artificial deadlines’ set by ‘people with political agendas’

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said Sunday that the results of the state’s election will not be announced before “artificial deadlines” set by “people with political agendas.”

The Michigan governor declined to tell CBS’s “Face The Nation” how long it will take for the state to determine the official results of this year’s election. 

“Michigan will be able to announce results, but we are not going to have artificial deadlines set by, you know, people with political agendas,” she said. “We’re gonna get this right.”

{mosads}“It will be soon after polls close,” she added. “I’m not gonna put a number on it, but we’re gonna get it right.”

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) has said the battleground state that President Trump won in 2016 will not be able to report the election results on Nov. 3.

Election results are expected to be delayed this year as a record number of people complete mail-in ballots to avoid going to polling places amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Whitmer also responded to a CBS poll that found half of Trump’s supporters think they should monitor voting places.

“We are prepared to make sure this election goes smoothly,” she said. “We’re gonna keep people safe as they go to the polls, and we will not tolerate anyone who’s trying to interfere with someone’s ability to safely vote.”

When asked about potential violence on Election Day, Whitmer said, “I’m not worried, but we are preparing to make sure we do everything we can to keep people safe.”

Last week, the FBI thwarted a plot to kidnap the governor, charging 13 members of a militia group, which was part of a plan to raid the state Capitol in Lansing. 

Updated at 11:36 a.m.