Security Concerns Lead to Closure of State House, Senate Offices Today
Gideon D’Assandro, spokesman for the Michigan House of Representatives confirmed that the Michigan State House and Senate office buildings will be closed today. Senators and employees were notified Sunday afternoon that the Capitol building, the Binsfield office building, and senate offices in Boji Tower will be closed. No one is to report for work.
The move comes the day before Michigan’s 16 electors are set to gather in the state Capitol to cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The House of Representative notice adds “only those needed for the Electoral College will be permitted in the Capitol Building.”
The Michigan House of Representatives sent out a notice saying the closures are happening “Due to safety and security concerns in the downtown Lansing area” while tasking their staff to work remotely. Shannon Banner, a spokeswoman for Michigan State Police said the decision to close those facilities did not come from them. “Questions about this action should be directed to the House and Senate”, she said.
This is happening in every state across the country today, electors casting their ballots for the candidate that won their state during the election. Once this task is completed, the election will be over except for the formality of the House and Senate counting the votes from the electors on January 6th. Our President will be inaugurated at noon on January 20, 2021, and hopefully all of the drama from this Presidential election will be behind us.