(Between now and the general election on November 8, Michigan News Source will write a series of candidate profiles. Below is a profile on GOP Secretary of State candidate Kristina Karamo. She is running against Democrat incumbent Jocelyn Benson.)

What do you offer Michigan residents that your opponent does not?

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Michiganders need someone with honesty and integrity to ensure increased citizen oversight of the Department of State . Ensuring that our elections are run per the rule of law is a matter of national survival. Unlike my opponent, who demonizes those who question her actions as Secretary of State as threats to democracy, (which is something that only comes out of the mouths of tyrants, not servant-leaders); I want to invite the people of Michigan to better understand how the department works; especially our election system. I want to ensure that SoS services are done efficiently and that we are saving the wonderful people of Michigan money. It is immoral that the Secretary of State’s office has been in many regards used as a money-making venture for the State of Michigan at the expense of the people of Michigan. I am determined to put the people of Michigan first, increasing citizen oversight of the Secretary of State to ensure integrity in our election systems and branch offices.

What is the most important issue Michigan voters face?

Michigan is one of the top 10 states that families and businesses are fleeing from. This has to change if we want our state to thrive and see economic growth. Michigan’s mass exodus of families has caused our state to lose a congressional seat. Michigan has been plagued with lack of opportunity, a failing economy, and crime in our major cities. Promises to “Fix The Damn Roads” have largely gone unmet, which causes damage to cars and leaves unsafe road conditions for motorcycle drivers. For low-income households, car repairs for this is an extra burden on families. Specific to the Secretary of State’s office, ensuring that our elections are secure is a matter of national survival, and is a key component of our voting rights. Ballot access needs to be lawfully managed, as well as increasing efficiency and accessibility of branch office/online/kiosk operations, consistent with the fact that people not only use those services for their personal life but their businesses as well.

The security of the 2020 election still troubles many Michigan voters. How will you work for the people?

Poll Challengers are advocates for their community to ensure that our elections are processed per the law, which is why I will encourage more Michiganders to become poll challengers/watchers. This isn’t to assume or accuse our election officials/workers of impropriety, irregularities, or fraud. However, considering that securing our elections and our ability to vote are inextricably linked to our liberty, we must have increased citizen oversight over our election process. Our voting rights contain three key elements: ballot-access, protecting our ballot from manipulation, and preventing illegal ballots from being injected into our elections. I am determined to protect ALL elements of our voting rights. As Secretary of State, we will have an accurate voter registration database (QVF), ballots will be processed accurately, and citizens will be able to monitor the election process.

What is your highest priority?

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My top priority will be to clean up Michigan’s voter registration database. Some municipalities have 4 times the amount of absentee ballots, so ensuring the voter registration database accuracy is critical. I am committed to bringing back true walk-in services at our SoS branch offices, while maintaining appointment services so that Michigan residents can enjoy ease of service.

What are you hearing from Michiganders while on the campaign trail?

Michiganders are frustrated with the fact that elected officials do not always serve or represent the best interests of the people once they are in office. Irrespective of political affiliation, people are angry that our elected officials are not serving them, and only offer lip service and great platitudes. We need to focus on restoring Michigan back to its people.

More information about Kristina Karamo’s campaign can be found here.