Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has sent out a memo to election workers explaining that voters don't have to confirm their citizenship before receiving a ballot.

MLive.com reports Johnson's memo was issued about noon Tuesday after some people refused to check a box on their ballot applications asking if they were U.S. citizens.

Secretary of State spokesman Fred Woodhams says elections workers were told voters "should still be issued a ballot."

Johnson first ordered the citizenship check box to appear on the February presidential primary application.

Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a bill last month requiring voters to check a similar citizenship box.

Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in Michigan elections.

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer is blasting Johnson for demanding "qualified and eligible voters re-affirm their citizenship."