Michigan's Bureau of Elections is taking decisive action to address significant issues with the rollout of the new Mitten System, following a series of complications during its launch. During a recent oversight meeting, officials revealed that they have suspended payments to the system's vendor, Tyler Technologies, until critical functionality is restored. The contract with Tyler, valued at $9 million over five years, has already seen over $3 million spent on implementation and maintenance.

The meeting highlighted the challenges faced during the data migration process, which involved over 24 million records. Officials acknowledged that the complexities of legacy data formats led to unexpected problems, including slow search functionalities and timeout errors. Tyler Technologies' President, Liz Thomas, emphasized their commitment to resolving these issues, stating that they are deploying additional resources at no extra cost to the state.

To ensure transparency, the Bureau of Elections has launched a dedicated website, Michigan.gov/mitninfo, where users can track progress on fixes, report challenges, and access training resources. The goal is to have major issues resolved by the next filing deadline on July 25, including improvements to search functionality and bulk upload operations.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expressed her commitment to achieving a system that is accessible, useful, and secure, stating that the current performance does not meet the expected standards. The Bureau is actively working with Tyler Technologies to implement substantial improvements and restore full functionality.

As the situation develops, stakeholders are encouraged to utilize the new website for updates and to report any ongoing issues. The Bureau of Elections remains focused on ensuring that the Mitten System meets the needs of its users and upholds the highest standards of public trust.