The bureau is responsible for the integrity of an election by ensuring election laws are followed, training and advising 2,300 local clerks, compiling official election results and providing instructional materials. Next are the county election officials. Counties support the election process in a number of ways. Each county has a County Elections Commission, with a chief judge of probate of the county or probate court district, the county clerk and county treasurer. The commission provides election supplies, including ballots for federal, state and county elections.
Counties receive and certify petitions for countywide offices and ballot proposals.
The county also accepts campaign finance reports from local candidates and trains precinct inspectors. The conduct of local elections and operation of polling place is handled at the city, township or school district level, depending on the nature of the election. A City or Township Election Commission determines precincts, assesses voting equipment needs, provides voting supplies and ballots for local elections. The commission is also responsible for appointing precinct inspectors. Precinct inspectors are the workers who manage the polls on election day.