diff --git a/src/electos/ballotmaker/cli.py b/src/electos/ballotmaker/cli.py
index 7006395..ec9a832 100644
--- a/src/electos/ballotmaker/cli.py
+++ b/src/electos/ballotmaker/cli.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """ The BallotMaker Command Line Interface (CLI)"""
+import logging
+import sys
 from os import strerror
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
@@ -12,6 +14,10 @@
 STYLE_HELP = "Stylesheet file for ballot generation"
 VERSION_HELP = "Print the version number."
 
+# configure logging
+logging.basicConfig(stream=sys.stdout, level=logging.DEBUG)
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def version_callback(value: bool):
     if value:
@@ -45,8 +51,8 @@ def make(
     """Make ballots from EDF file"""
     make_ballots_result = make_ballots.make_ballots(edf, output_dir, style)
     if make_ballots_result != NO_ERRORS:
-        typer.echo(
-            f"Error {make_ballots_result} making ballots: {strerror(make_ballots_result)}"
+        log.error(
+            f"Code {make_ballots_result} in make - {strerror(make_ballots_result)}"
         )
     return make_ballots_result
 
@@ -61,8 +67,8 @@ def validate(
     """Validate data in EDF file"""
     validate_edf_result = validate_edf.validate_edf(edf)
     if validate_edf_result != NO_ERRORS:
-        typer.echo(
-            f"Error {validate_edf_result} validating EDF: {strerror(validate_edf_result)}"
+        log.error(
+            f"Code {validate_edf_result} in validate - {strerror(validate_edf_result)}"
         )
     return validate_edf_result
 
diff --git a/src/electos/ballotmaker/make_ballots.py b/src/electos/ballotmaker/make_ballots.py
index dbf8efb..678863a 100644
--- a/src/electos/ballotmaker/make_ballots.py
+++ b/src/electos/ballotmaker/make_ballots.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
+import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from electos.ballotmaker.constants import NO_ERRORS, NO_FILE
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def make_ballots(
     _edf: Path, _output_dir: Path = None, _styles: Path = None
@@ -13,8 +16,12 @@ def make_ballots(
         Output directory for generated PDF files
         Styles file for ballot formatting
     """
-    # is the EDF a JSON file?
+    # is the EDF a file?
     if _edf is None:
+        log.debug("No EDF file provided to make ballots.")
+        return NO_FILE
+    if not _edf.is_file():
+        log.debug(f"Can't make ballots, EDF {_edf} is not a file")
         return NO_FILE
     # was a valid output directory provided?
     # was a styles file provided?
diff --git a/src/electos/ballotmaker/validate_edf.py b/src/electos/ballotmaker/validate_edf.py
index 3a78106..8740a24 100644
--- a/src/electos/ballotmaker/validate_edf.py
+++ b/src/electos/ballotmaker/validate_edf.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
+import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from electos.ballotmaker.constants import NO_DATA, NO_ERRORS, NO_FILE
 from electos.ballotmaker.read_edf import read_edf
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def validate_edf(
     _edf: Path,
@@ -13,10 +16,12 @@ def validate_edf(
     """
     # is the EDF a file?
     if _edf is None:
+        log.debug("No EDF file provided for validation.")
         return NO_FILE
     if not _edf.is_file():
+        log.debug(f"Can't validate, EDF {_edf} is not a file")
         return NO_FILE
 
     ballot_style_count = read_edf(_edf)
-    print(f"Found {ballot_style_count} ballots in {_edf}")
+    log.info(f"Found {ballot_style_count} ballots in {_edf}")
     return NO_ERRORS
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 8d366a7..df69232 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def test_make():
     # bypass mandatory CLI option to force error
     assert cli.make(edf=None) == NO_FILE
     # any old path will satisfy current tests
-    assert cli.make(imaginary_file) == NO_ERRORS
+    assert cli.make(imaginary_file) == NO_FILE
     # check CLI errors: no options for make
     result = runner.invoke(cli.app, ["make"])
     assert result.exit_code == NO_FILE
diff --git a/tests/test_make_ballots.py b/tests/test_make_ballots.py
index 3fe9e5a..7163e5f 100644
--- a/tests/test_make_ballots.py
+++ b/tests/test_make_ballots.py
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from electos.ballotmaker import make_ballots
 from electos.ballotmaker.constants import NO_ERRORS, NO_FILE
+from electos.ballotmaker.make_ballots import make_ballots
 
-test_file = Path("empty.json")
+imaginary_file = Path("imaginary_file.json")
+test_dir = Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
+test_file = Path("june_test_case.json")
+full_test_path = Path(test_dir, test_file)
 
 
 def test_make_ballots():
     # force a no file error with Path = None
-    assert make_ballots.make_ballots(_edf=None) == NO_FILE
-    assert make_ballots.make_ballots(test_file) == NO_ERRORS
+    assert make_ballots(_edf=None) == NO_FILE
+    # ensure imaginary_file is actually not a file
+    assert not imaginary_file.is_file()
+    assert make_ballots(imaginary_file) == NO_FILE
+    assert full_test_path.is_file()
+    assert make_ballots(full_test_path) == NO_ERRORS