LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says Michigan’s elections are secure, but critics argue her refusal to release documents, voter rolls, and election training materials tells a different story.
Republican Secretary of State candidate Anthony Forlini said the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to deploy election monitors is simply “a good business practice.”
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“Michigan voters deserve confidence that every legal vote is counted and that only eligible U.S. citizens are voting in our elections,” said Forlini, who serves as the Macomb County clerk. “Our goal as election overseers should never be to argue about whether elections are secure. Our goal should be to prove they are.”
He added, “If federal election monitors help strengthen public confidence in our elections, then I welcome them to Macomb County.”
Benson defends election security.
Benson, who is running for governor as a Democrat and will oversee her own election in two weeks, has repeatedly refused to turn over basic election documents to both the Michigan House and the DOJ. Benson has also been warned that she could face criminal charges if she knowingly leaves noncitizens on Michigan’s voter rolls.
Trump revives 2020 fraud allegations.
Last Thursday, Benson continued to repeat her talking points about safe and secure elections after President Donald Trump highlighted Michigan over alleged voter fraud tied to the 2020 election.
Trump alleged that FBI interviews with former canvassers for GBI Strategies, a Democratic-aligned voter registration contractor, revealed that some workers signed voter registration forms using other people’s names. In addition, they are accused of submitting applications for nonexistent individuals.
Trump also accused the Biden Justice Department of blocking any prosecutions related to the alleged fraud.
Gilchrist pushes back.
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Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, said Trump is keeping “conspiracy theories” alive. Gilchrist said that, as secretary of state, he “will not let Michigan be a tool in [Trump’s] toolbox for tyranny.”
Gilchrist added, “I will not waiver in the fight against Trump’s Puppet Anthony Forlini and the MAGA’s attacks on our elections, our voting rights, and our democracy.”
Michigan’s primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 4. While voters will select candidates up and down the ballot, the secretary of state and attorney general candidates for both parties will not appear on the ballot until November. Republican and Democratic party conventions selected those candidates earlier this year.
