February 12th, 20211LANSING — After months of accusations about widespread voter fraud in Michigan, results of an audit exercise to determine the accuracy of the results of the November presidential election give a clearer picture.
A hand count of more than 18,000 ballots randomly selected throughout the state affirms the electoral victory of...
December 16th, 20200LANSING — The Michigan Secretary of State's Office is expanding its online and self-service options and is expecting them to be available in March.
Some of the new options include renewing standard and enhanced driver’s licenses and state identification cards at self-service stations and online.
Michiganders will also be able...
December 7th, 20200WAYNE COUNTY — A group of protesters appeared outside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's home on Saturday night to intimidate her and her family about Joe Biden's win in the Nov. 3 election in the state.
The protesters gathered to shout typical pro-Trump election slogans like "Stop the Steal", as Benson and her family had...
December 3rd, 20200LANSING — Data of rejected ballots from the Nov. 3 general elections shows more wrongfully cast votes were rejected for a variety of reasons in that election than the August primary.
Ballots can be rejected for several reasons. For example, when no signature is provided by the voter, or when the signature doesn’t match records or...
November 17th, 20200LANSING — Another legal challenge to Michigan elections this week meant Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was forced to hand over 1,100 pages of election-related documents due to a wide-ranging legislative subpoena.
The subpoena was issued by the Senate and House Oversight committees, as part of an ongoing challenge by the Trump...
November 6th, 20200LANSING – Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens issued her opinion today in Trump v Benson, the lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Stephens denied the campaign's request to stop vote counts and processing after she held a hearing and listened to arguments Thursday,...
November 2nd, 20200MICHIGAN — As clerks, election workers and municipal governments brace for Election Day, Michigan officials are now ensuring that polling places will be safe, clean and accessible.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on Monday that election workers were taking precautions and are well equipped with masks, gloves,...
October 21st, 20200LANSING — With just two weeks until the election, Michigan’s secretary of state is urging voters to hand deliver their absentee ballots.
Jocelyn Benson told the media during a press conference that voters are being urged to not risk post office delays.
“Only the absentee ballots received by 8 p.m. on November 3 can be...
October 14th, 20200LANSING — Three weeks out from the Nov. 3 election, nearly 1 million citizens have already returned absentee ballots, and more than 2.8 million have requested them, according to the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). A breakdown by jurisdiction of this week’s absentee ballot data is available here.
“Michigan citizens can be...
October 6th, 20200LANSING — A new bill allow clerks in certain cities or townships to begin processing absent voter (AV) ballots prior to election day.
Governor Whitmer signed Michigan Senate Bill 757 alongside Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Tuesday. The bill also requires clerks to now notify voters of any reason their vote won’t be counted...
September 24th, 20200LANSING — On Thursday, election clerks the state opened their offices for early voting. Local clerks also mailed out ballots to residents who have requested them.
Today marks the 40th day before the Nov. 3 election, when clerks are required by the state constitution to open up for early voting.
The state says more than 2.39...
September 16th, 20200LANSING — Governor Whitmer took time to discuss the upcoming Nov. 3 general elections at her weekly COVID-19 live address from Lansing on Wednesday. Joining her were the state’s health chief, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Benson appeared confident in the state’s ability to get through a...
September 1st, 20200LANSING — Those Michiganders whose driver's license, state ID or vehicle registration expires between March 1 and Sept. 30 have until Sept. 30 to complete their renewals, the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) announced today.
With that deadline now a month away, MDOS is encouraging drivers who haven’t completed their renewals...
August 2nd, 20200The Michigan Department of State posted the names of the remaining 180 semifinalists for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, following the removal of 20 applicants struck by the quadrant leaders of the state legislature.
The list of the remaining semifinalists and correspondence from the legislative leaders naming the...
July 20th, 20200WASHINGTON D.C. — Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden spoke at an online event hosted by Emgage Action, a national organization that promotes Muslim civic engagement, on Monday, where he promised to engage with the concerns of Muslim voters seriously.
"I’ll be a president who seeks out and listens to and incorporates the...
July 1st, 20200
LANSING — On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 876-878, which makes into law her previous executive orders, further extending the renewal dates for driver’s licenses, CDLs, state ID cards and vehicle registrations. Those with driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations expiring after March 1 have until Sept. 30 to...
June 25th, 20200LANSING — On Wednesday, 200 semifinalists for Michigan’s first Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission were randomly selected in a live broadcasted event by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS).
The random selection was performed by Rehmann LLC, an independent accounting firm hired through a public bidding process to...
June 25th, 20201
LANSING — Voters in Michigan who requested absentee ballots can expect them to arrive in their mailboxes soon. The state's Secretary of State office announced that clerks will begin mailing them on Thursday, June 25, for the August 4 primary elections.
A constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2018 requires ballot mailing...
June 4th, 20200LANSING — The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) processed more than 6,000 applications for the state’s new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission by June 1, the last day to notarize and submit an application.
The application process began in October of last year, when the state outlined the application process. The...
May 28th, 20200LANSING — Secretary of State (SOS) branch offices will reopen in Michigan on June 1 by appointment only for essential transactions not available online, the state announced on Thursday.
Beginning June 1, all 131 branch offices in Michigan will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointment-only for transactions...
May 19th, 20200DEARBORN — Many in the state may have heard of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Michiganders voted to create the commission in 2018 to give citizens exclusive power over the drawing of district boundaries for the Michigan Senate and House, and the U.S. Congress, every 10 years.
This means that 13...
March 24th, 20200LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that absent voter ballot applications will be mailed by her office to all voters in the May 5 election to help ensure both public health and democratic rights are protected.
“Our country has a long history of carrying out elections in times of crisis, and we are...
October 26th, 20190DETROIT – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined other officials and community leaders on Thursday, Oct. 24, in Detroit to announce the state’s new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The state is now accepting applications from eligible Michigan residents to help draw the state’s next political district...
December 9th, 20180LANSING — The Michigan House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that would allow the legislature to intervene in any court case, which could potentially position lawmakers in opposition to Democratic Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel.
The bill would allow the legislature to intervene in cases where the state has a...
November 24th, 20180LANSING— Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson has announced her transition committee, which will guide her preparation to assume the role of Michigan’s chief motor vehicle administrator and chief election officer, on January 1.
“I am honored that two leaders and mentors I respect and admire, Senator Levin and Commissioner...
November 10th, 20180Democrat Gretchen Whitmer wins governor'- race, beats Republican candidate Bill Schuette
In a pivotal election, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer has won the race for governor of Michigan.
She swept 53.3 percent of the votes, beating Republican Bill Schuette in 17 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Among them were Macomb, Oakland, Genesee, Wayne...
October 21st, 20180DEARBORN — On Tuesday, October 16, State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D- Dearborn) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D- Dearborn) joined Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, for a town hall meeting at the Henry Ford Centennial Library.
Hammoud and Dingell both made opening remarks.
Benson said she believes...
October 19th, 20181DEARBORN – Several key races are brewing that could alter the course municipalities and the state take as they face challenges like improving public education, fixing dilapidated infrastructure and lowering insurance premiums.
After interviews and deliberations on October 17, The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC)...