An election integrity watchdog group is criticizing Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for what it calls a failure to enforce — and tendency to violate — the state’s election laws since 2020.
As part of its ongoing analysis of how well battleground Secretaries of State handled recent elections, the Fair Election Fund gave Benson a failing grade alleging that “multiple and continued failures that undermine the confidence of voters in Michigan,” such as failing to maintain an accurate voter registration list and issuing unlawful instructions to clerks despite repeated judicial rebukes.
In its report, FEF highlighted the numerous lawsuits and legal complaints filed against Benson over the past four years, particularly those concerning Benson’s repeated attempts to loosen voter signature verification standards.
Benson directed local election clerks in 2021 to presume the validity of voter signatures on absentee ballots, prompting a lawsuit.
