Clerks may get more absentee ballot preprocessing, but will it be necessary?
Vote counting last November ran smoothly in Michigan with an assist from absentee ballot preprocessing – even if it was brief. FILE: An election worker removes absentee ballots from their outer mailing envelopes during preprocessing in Lansing, Mich., on Monday, November 2, 2020. “But I don’t know if I want that now with nine days early voting,” he said. “So, if we have early voting and [absentee voting’s] down, I don’t need preprocessing,” Hondorp said. Hondorp wants more funding for local elections, because early in-person voting will require more tabulators, more laptops for e-pollbooks and longer rental of facilities as polling places.
mlive.com3 big election priorities outlined by Democratic lawmakers, Michigan SOS Benson
Michigan’s secretary of state and about 20 Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday laid out their vision for the future of Michigan elections: more funding, protecting poll workers and punishing lies and deceit about the election process that have haunted the state post-2020. She blamed those threats on the election denial movement spurred by former President Donald Trump’s false claims about his loss in 2020. State Rep. Kara Hope, D-Holt, introduced a bill in 2021 to criminalize election worker harassment, but it never got a hearing. “I’m willing to work across the aisle on legislation to implement election security measures, protect clerks and fund our elections,” she said in a statement. ‘A true leader,’ Michigan SOS Jocelyn Benson receives presidential medal
mlive.com‘A true leader,’ Michigan SOS Jocelyn Benson receives presidential medal
On the second anniversary of an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to overturn the 2020 election, Michigan’s top election official was honored for her efforts to uphold democracy. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal – the nation’s second-highest civilian award – in a Washington ceremony on Friday. On Christmas Eve 2020, the president recalled, an angry crowd gathered outside Benson’s Detroit home and shouted as she and her son decorated their Christmas tree. Last year, Benson and Bowers also received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Although the 2020 presidential election was upheld, and election denial did not find a stronger foothold in 2022, Benson says there is more work to be done.
mlive.comMichigan elections director warns ballot proposal challengers to cease harassment, threatening behavior
In a letter this week, the head of the Michigan Bureau of Elections used his strongest language yet, telling the attorney for the group behind recount efforts across the state that recent disruptions will not be tolerated.
‘Bad faith’ recount; Shirkey’s conspiracies: The Week in Michigan Politics
Here’s what you need to know about a massive statewide recount, legislators’ last week in Lansing and more. 🗳️ Election critics get a recountThe Michigan Board of State Canvassers meets in Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 5, 2022. The Board of State Canvassers unanimously greenlit the recount Monday, even though members worried about EIF’s unproven claims of systemic fraud. 🗣️ “I can confirm that my office was served a subpoena in connection with the special counsel’s investigation yesterday,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Thursday. 5 more stories from MLive:🗳️ Michigan Supreme Court ends DePerno’s Antrim County election lawsuit⚖️ Flint water criminal charges dismissed against former Gov.
mlive.comDisclosures detail Democrats’ financial dominance in top races
Campaign finance disclosures filed Thursday drove home just thoroughly Democrats financially dominated the state’s top races in the midterm election. Gretchen Whitmer raised a record $38 million throughout the election cycle, while spending nearly $34 million — which includes a $3.5 million contribution her campaign made to the Michigan Democratic Party. It was nearly four times as much as her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon raised, a difference of nearly $30 million. Whitmer defeated Dixon in the general election by an 11-percentage point margin and ended the filing period with $2.3 million left. She outraised and outspent Whitmer in the last few weeks of the election, raising $2 million and spending $4.2 million in the final stretch.
mlive.comMichigan Secretary of State’s office subpoenaed in Jan. 6 investigation
The U.S. Department of Justice served Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office a subpoena Wednesday in an investigation regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot and former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn his election loss. “I can confirm that my office was served a subpoena in connection with the special counsel’s investigation yesterday,” Benson, a Democrat, said in a statement to MLive. Related: Jan. 6 special counsel seeks communication records between Trump and Wayne County officialsSmith also sent grand jury subpoenas to local officials in Wayne County, The Washington Post reported Tuesday and MLive confirmed, asking for records of communication between them and Trump, his team and a list of aides and allies. Read more from MLive:Whitmer, legislature tax cut talks falter, fumbling $200M economic development dealShirkey pushes conspiracies, foreshadows ‘God-like’ entities in final Senate speechStatue of Detroit’s first Black mayor set to replace Cass statue in U.S. CapitolSpousal employment plays a factor in marijuana licensing. But that could change.
mlive.comElection deniers fail in battleground states, but ‘Act III’ awaits in 2024
Governor nominee Tudor Dixon accepted her loss and conceded, as did AG nominee Matthew DePerno, who challenged legitimate election results in Antrim County two years ago. “What we saw in Michigan as well, was that election denialism is a losing strategy,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat. The midterms were “pushback against Trumpism,” said Dustin Carnahan, a Michigan State University assistant professor who studies misinformation and political communication. Instead, the former Detroit poll challenger who spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election claimed “irregularities” and illegal activity in this election. Still, frequent Michigan election deniers like former state Sen. Patrick Colbeck are questioning the legitimacy of the 2022 election, as are national Trump allies like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
mlive.comWhat are Michigan’s election recount laws and procedures?
Now that the dust has settled on Tuesday’s general election, the work turns to election clerks to confirm the results of the election. With the certification process in motion, here’s a guide to Michigan’s recount laws and procedures:Who can file for a recount? There are two ways in which an election recount for statewide office happens: automatically or by petition from a candidate. This includes races for U.S. House or Senate, State House or Senate, certain judicial offices and ballot proposals. Once election results are certified by the Board of State Canvassers, the clock starts moving on any potential recount procedures.
mlive.comGrosse Pointe Woods election results
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Voters in the Woods mirrored results in most races, including the top three finishers for three open seats on the Grosse Pointe Public School System Board of Education. Sean Cotton, the overall top vote-getter in the 10-person race for the board, received 3,702 votes, while Valarie St. John and Ginny Jeup
grossepointenews.comMichigan’s 2022 midterm election set record in voter turnout
Michigan’s 2022 midterm election saw the highest voter turnout in the state’s history, beating the record previously set in 2018. “I’m confident that as we go through the process when the unofficial results are finalized, they will reflect that this election was the highest turnout midterm election in Michigan’s history,” Benson said. “This is a great mark of the success of this election and the tremendous work of election officials and election workers and communities all across the state,” Benson said. Related: Michigan says no one voted twice during Detroit’s e-poll book issueRecord voter turnout isn’t the only reason to celebrate the success of the election, Benson said Wednesday afternoon. With unofficial election results continuing to roll out, several candidates who lost their bid in the 2022 midterms have already conceded their race— some even being previous 2020 election deniers.
mlive.comPark results reflect party lines
GROSSE POINTE PARK — There was consistency along party lines among Park voters in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election. The percentage of straight-party ticket voting, roughly 67 percent Democrat to 33 percent Republican, held firm through numerous partisan federal, state and county decisions. Democrat Park voters sent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a 68-to-30 percent win
grossepointenews.comBenson reelected SOS: ‘Democracy won here in Michigan’
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will remain in office after decisively snatching victory from Republican opponent Kristina Karmao, per Associated Press reports. Benson initially declared victory just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, with just 33% of the vote having been counted. Upon initially declaring victory late Tuesday, Nov. 8, Benson said the election was a referendum on democracy and voting rights, “and tonight, democracy won here in Michigan.”“Michiganders showed the world that Michigan voters will vote for truth over lies,” she said in an emailed statement. Benson, former dean of Wayne State University law school and a legal expert on voting rights, beat out Republican hopeful Mary Treder Lang for the role in 2018. She ran for Michigan SOS in 2010 and lost, then ran again in 2018 and won.
mlive.comNessel, Benson hold significant leads for Michigan AG, SOS with more than 80 percent of votes tallied
Michiganders continue to await final results for two top state races: Attorney General and Secretary of State. Both Benson and incumbent AG Dana Nessel continue to lead their respective races with more than 80% of votes counted. The incumbent secretary of state currently has 2.27 million votes in her column, accounting for 54.8% of the votes already counted. Challenger Kristina Karamo currently has 1.78 million votes for about 43% of the votes. The incumbent attorney general currently has 2.14 million votes or 52.1%, while DePerno has 1.87 million or 45.6% of the votes, with 83% of the votes counted, according to the AP.
mlive.comMichigan SOS Jocelyn Benson declares victory in reelection bid
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says she will remain in office for another four years, declaring victory just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. As of 11:23 p.m. the Associated Press reported Benson as leading with 53% of the vote to Republican opponent Kristina Karamo’s 44.8%. And tonight, democracy won here in Michigan,” Benson said in an emailed statement. She ran for Michigan SOS in 2010 and lost, then ran again in 2018 and won. More from MLiveMichigan 2022 election results: Governor, AG, SOS and ballot proposalsMichigan 2022 election results: U.S. HouseMichigan 2022 election results: State SenateMichigan 2022 election results: State House districts 1-55Michigan 2022 election results: State House districts 56-110
mlive.comBenson leads Karamo in early Michigan SOS race returns
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has a comfortable lead so far over her Republican challenger Kristina Karamo as early race returns roll in for Michigan’s midterm election. RELATED: As election results roll in, here’s where Michigan’s midterms stand“Some jurisdictions may be done more quickly,” Benson told reporters last week. Benson, former dean of Wayne State University law school and a legal expert on voting rights, beat out Republican hopeful Mary Treder Lang for the role in 2018. She is Michigan’s first Democratic secretary of state since Richard Austin, who held the office from 1971 to 1995. More from MLiveMichigan 2022 election results: Governor, AG, SOS and ballot proposalsMichigan 2022 election results: U.S. HouseMichigan 2022 election results: State SenateMichigan 2022 election results: State House districts 1-55Michigan 2022 election results: State House districts 56-110
mlive.comMichigan election ran smoothly despite some long lines, Benson says
That was the message Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson delivered after polls closed. Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Rollow said that is the “appropriate legal process” but it becomes illegal if it delays the process. But election officials reassured the public everyone was able to vote, and no one voted twice. More on MLive:Looking for Michigan election results? 9 tips for watching Michigan’s election results like a political pro‘What we do is right’: Antrim County election officials decry integrity challenges
mlive.comAs election results roll in, here’s where Michigan’s midterms stand
With polls now closed over most of Michigan, there’s nothing to do but sit and wait for results – which state election officials warn might not be known until the following day. Election administrators caution that full unofficial results won’t be available until 24 hours after polls close. “Some jurisdictions may be done more quickly,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson told reporters last week. As votes continue to be counted throughout Tuesday night, keep with MLive for the latest race results at the local, state and national level. More from MLiveMichigan 2022 election results: Governor, AG, SOS and ballot proposalsMichigan 2022 election results: U.S. HouseMichigan 2022 election results: State SenateMichigan 2022 election results: State House districts 1-55Michigan 2022 election results: State House districts 56-110
mlive.comMichigan polls are closed, get election results here
Four Upper Peninsula counties in the central time zone will have polls close at 9 p.m. EST. Related: 9 tips for watching Michigan’s election results like a political proResults will be trickling in throughout the night. But election officials warn that full results likely won’t be available until 24 hours after polls close. The Nov. 8 midterm is only the second major election with no-reason absentee voting in Michigan, and absentee ballots usually lag behind same-day returns. Related: Looking for Michigan election results?
mlive.comMichigan says no one voted twice during Detroit’s e-poll book issue
An issue with electronic poll books at a number of Detroit polling locations caused some confusion amongst voters Tuesday morning. While the issue was being reviewed, those voters were given a provisional ballot and a work-around was put in place. The e-poll book system recognized the duplicate ballot numbers and issued the error message so that no two ballots would have the same ballot number. “At no point was there an inability to process a voter while the issue was being resolved,” he said. Read more on MLive:Higher-than-expected voter turnout throughout Michigan, state reports9 tips for watching Michigan’s election results like a political proLooking for Michigan election results?
mlive.comLooking for Michigan election results? Be patient, officials say.
In that period, expect a similar speed to 2020, where absentee vote returns lag behind same-day returns. Related: Benson sees ‘safe, secure, fair’ election with high turnout, typical speedWhile some other states allow mail ballots to be counted before Election Day, Michigan doesn’t. In Michigan, he initially led because in-person votes – counted quicker than absentee votes – skewed Republican. But after absentee results – which skewed Democratic – were finished, Trump lost by more than 154,000 votes. This ‘red mirage’ effect was a cornerstone of the conspiratorial film “2000 Mules.”Expect mail ballots to skew blue this time, too.
mlive.comPolls are open in Michigan: What’s on the ballot and where you can vote
If you haven’t already voted through an absentee ballot, polls are now open. Those in line to vote at 8 p.m. will still be able to cast a ballot, so long as they stay in line. If you’ve already voted via absentee ballot, you can even track it’s whereabouts online. The Secretary of State’s office also is encouraging individuals to visit their local clerk to vote absentee at the clerk’s office. Michigan election law says that includes your father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent or grandchild.
mlive.comBenson sees ‘safe, secure, fair’ election with high turnout, typical speed
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson asserted Thursday that voting across Michigan on Nov. 8 will be safe, secure and accurate, although don’t expect election results to come quicker than previous years. Michigan is on track for another 3 million votes by the time polls close Tuesday at 8 p.m., she said. President Donald Trump did the latter in 2020 before many absentee ballots – which greatly favored Joe Biden – were counted. Benson said Michigan is on track for one of the “highest turnout midterm elections that we’ve seen” based on the number of requested absentee ballots. In Detroit this year, however, Clerk Janice Winfrey told reporters Thursday she expects voter turnout between 28-33%.
mlive.comSupreme Court stay keeps poll challenger guidance in place for midterms
Poll challenger guidance issued earlier this year by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will remain in place following a stay by the state Supreme Court issued Thursday. This stay will be in effect throughout the appeals periods available in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Given the election is Tuesday, Nov. 8, this means the guidance will remain in effect for the midterms. This effectively pauses an October ruling from the Court of Claims which initially declared the guidance invalid due to judges believing the state enacted them improperly. RELATED: Politics have no place on the bench, party-nominated Michigan Supreme Court candidates sayNot all were in favor of the stay, however.
mlive.comFrom Congress to abortion: Who, and what, is on Michigan’s November ballot
Overall, these matchups include:Learn about the candidates on your ballot via Vote411, a partnership between MLive and the League of Women Voters. If you’ve already voted via absentee ballot, you can even track it’s whereabouts online. The Secretary of State’s office also is encouraging individuals to visit their local clerk to vote absentee at the clerk’s office, to ensure that postal delays don’t keep a ballot from being counted. Michigan election law says that includes your father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent or grandchild. You can also request your local clerk come to you and pick up your ballot.
mlive.comMillions of dollars have been poured into Michigan ballot questions, governor’s race
Gretchen Whitmer raised $4.8 million, while her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon wasn’t too far behind, having raised $4.4 million. Dixon spent nearly $2 million in funds, using some for her first broadcast advertising of the campaign. Total this cycle, Karamo’s campaign has raised more than $1.1 million and spent nearly a million of it. Democrats in the Senate reported bringing in roughly $1.7 million in the third quarter of the year. But, like both parties in the lower chamber, Senate Democrats also reported spending $4.3 million during that same time.
mlive.comObama rallies with Michigan Dems, boosting Whitmer and mocking Dixon
Aiming to build enthusiasm ahead of the Nov. 8 general election, Obama spoke to a diverse crowd of about 3,500, including all of Michigan’s top Democrats, in the gym of Renaissance High School. Obama lavished praise on Whitmer’s record and had ample criticism for her Republican opponent, Norton Shores commentator Tudor Dixon. “Public education, our economic future, our democracy and the right to choose is on this ballot,” Whitmer said. “No amount of threats, lies, deceit and vitriol are going to stand in the way of us and our democracy,” Benson said. Obama also rallied in support of Whitmer during her first campaign, and to elect President Joe Biden in 2020.
mlive.comBenson is Secretary of State frontrunner in campaign cash and polling
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has a comfortable advantage to stay Michigan’s top election official, according to campaign finance disclosures released Friday and the latest polling. Benson raised just over $879,000 from mid-September through Oct. 23, according to her pre-election report, including an in-kind contribution of about $5,000. In total this election cycle, Benson has raised more than $5.1 million. Total this cycle, Karamo’s campaign has raised more than $1.1 million and spent nearly a million of it. The latest independent poll, conducted last week by Mitchell Research, gave Benson a 9-point lead with a 4.2-point margin of error.
mlive.comOnline, mail-in voter registration for Michigan’s midterm election ends today
After today, residents can still register to vote in person at their local clerk’s office until 8 p.m. on election day. MLive’s 2022 midterms guideMichigan residents who have already registered can still request an absentee ballot online at the Secretary of State website, or at their local election clerk’s office. At their clerk’s office, they can also be issued an absentee ballot, fill it out and return it in the same visit. Voters who already have their absentee ballot in hand are encouraged to mail it today to avoid postal delays, or hand-deliver their absentee ballot to their clerk’s office or drop box. Visit the Secretary of State website to verify your voter registration status, find your local clerk’s office or for additional information.
mlive.comMichigan election challenger rules invalid, improperly enacted, court finds
Some of Michigan’s latest rules for election challengers are invalid, a state judge has ruled, forcing top election officials to scramble for revisions less than three weeks before a midterm election. Swartzle’s ruling means Benson and state elections director Jonathan Brater must revise the elections manual if they want to use it. Poll challengers are appointed by political parties to watch for wrongdoing, like whether a voter is registered or election workers are following the law. “This is an incredible victory for election integrity and the rule of law in Michigan,” Michigan Republican Party co-chair Ron Weiser said in a statement. One of those challengers, Braden Giacobazzi, was thrown out of Detroit’s absentee ballot counting center on election night.
mlive.comBicyclist injured after collision with vehicle
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – An 86-year-old bicyclist has been sent to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle, Ottawa County sheriff’s deputies said. Police responded to a 1:50 p.m. report of a bicycle vs. vehicle crash at the intersection of 28th Avenue and Port Sheldon Street in Georgetown Township. Police said a 60-year-old Hudsonville woman was driving a Saturn Ion east on Port Sheldon Street, preparing to turn south onto 28th Avenue on a green light. The bicyclist, who was riding east down the sidewalk on Port Sheldon Street, entered the crosswalk at 28th Avenue with a white pedestrian signal and ran into the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was also injured in the crash.
mlive.comFor Michigan SOS Jocelyn Benson, standing guard over democracy and voting rights are her priorities
Jocelyn Benson literally wrote the book on secretaries of state. In 2010, while a law professor at Wayne State University, she published a book examining the important duties of America’s top election officers.
mlive.comAbsentee ballot preprocessing passes Michigan legislature for November, future elections
More than half of the 2.1 million voters in August’s primary election cast ballots by mail, and high turnout is predicted for November. But before Wednesday night, those absentee ballots – even if received weeks in advance – had to sit idle before polls opened on Election Day. Considering some municipalities see tens or hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots, this will speed up a “very time-consuming” process said state Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, chair of the Senate Elections Committee and a former Secretary of State. Both lawmakers and the governor’s office reached the deal Wednesday, concluding a years-long debate by permanently putting preprocessing into law. Absentee ballots for military and overseas voters started mailing out on Saturday, and ballots for everyone else who requested one start going out Thursday.
mlive.comMobile Secretary of State services coming to western, central Michigan
When people in southeastern Michigan can’t easily get to a Michigan Secretary of State office, the agency can bring those services to them. The SOS is adding two mobile offices to its fleet of one, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Monday at the Detroit Auto Show. “These mobile offices are the equivalent of a standalone branch office,” Benson said. Benson said she envisions seven mobile offices in total, expanding to areas including the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula. She also wants every senior center in the state to eventually be visited by a mobile office once a month.
mlive.comMichigan AG Nessel requests special prosecutor in 2020 tabulator probe
Published reports say the Michigan Attorney General’s office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general and others should be charged in connection with an effort to gain access to voting machines after the 2020 election.
Michigan election workers want more done to keep them safe as they face threats, harassment
During the 2020 election, Canton Township Clerk Michael Siegrist’s office collected more than 57,000 ballots. They did it safely and securely. But once the counting was done, the threats started, coming by the dozens.