Michigan Investigates Claims of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls
In a recent investigation by Michigan’s Secretary of State, allegations regarding noncitizens registered to vote in Macomb County have come under scrutiny. The inquiry, initiated by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, reviewed 15 cases with varied outcomes. Of these, three individuals were confirmed as citizens, four had their registrations already canceled, and the statuses of the remaining eight are pending further verification.
Concerns were initially raised by Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, following reports of residents declining jury duty due to noncitizenship. Forlini stated that the matter was referred to Macomb County corporation counsel Frank Krycia, involving unspecified law enforcement agencies, while withholding specific details to avoid disrupting ongoing investigations.
Jocelyn Benson emphasized the importance of addressing such sensitive issues with precision. “We have proof that the warnings we’ve been given, that approaching this issue with a sledgehammer and not a scalpel can lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters, reckless accusations without careful investigations put American citizens under the threat of arrest and criminal inquiry even though they have done nothing wrong,” Benson stated during a press briefing.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has also become involved, having previously filed a lawsuit against the state for comprehensive voter records, including sensitive personal information. While some data was provided, the state withheld certain details to protect voter privacy and election security. This action has faced skepticism from democracy watchdogs questioning its legality.
Benson criticized Forlini’s decision to publicly discuss the case prematurely. “Responsible election officials don’t hold press conferences before they’ve actually verified anything and we don’t meet with federal officials that are pushing conspiracy theories around voting before we’ve actually checked the facts,” she remarked.
Forlini’s office contended that their findings were largely consistent with Benson’s, except for discrepancies regarding noncitizen handling guidance from the Bureau of Elections. He expressed a willingness to collaborate for a resolution and stressed the importance of transparency and integrity in election processes.
The investigation revealed that three individuals on the list had participated in past elections. One was confirmed as a citizen, another had last voted in 2018 and was subsequently removed, and the third, who voted in 2024, is under further review. The incidence of noncitizen voting in Michigan’s last election was estimated at a minuscule 0.00028%.
Forlini also highlighted the potential overlap between voter rolls and jury duty lists, urging state lawmakers to enact new policies. However, experts like David Becker from the Center for Election Innovation and Research caution against this approach due to possible data mismatches leading to false positives.
Despite criticism from Michigan Republicans, who have challenged Benson’s management of voter rolls, the state remains a crucial player in upcoming elections. With significant congressional and Senate seats in contention, Michigan officials are taking measures to safeguard election integrity and prepare for possible disruptions.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been proactive in these efforts, engaging in exercises to counter potential election interference. Benson echoed this sentiment, underscoring the strengthened coordination among election administration bodies to prevent and address election-related challenges.
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