Shocking revelations expose cracks in Michigan’s election integrity. Last week, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson admitted that 15 non-citizens illegally voted in the November 2024 general election, despite her earlier claims that such incidents were nonexistent. This admission has sparked outrage among conservatives demanding stronger voter verification laws.
According to Just the News, Benson, a Democrat running for governor, initially told Congress in September 2024 that no evidence supported claims of non-citizen voting. A state review released last Thursday, comparing registered vehicles to voting records, uncovered 15 credible cases of non-citizens casting ballots. This contradiction has fueled distrust in her leadership.
Of the 15 non-citizens identified, 13 face potential criminal charges and have been referred to the Michigan Attorney General. One has passed away, and another remains under investigation by the state’s Office of Investigative Services. These cases represent a tiny fraction—0.00028%—of the 5.7 million votes cast in Michigan’s presidential election.
A Chinese foreign national studying at the University of Michigan turned himself in after illegally voting. He faces two felony charges for falsely registering and attempting to vote as an unqualified elector. This incident has intensified calls for stricter voter ID measures.
Benson opposes a proposed Michigan constitutional amendment requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID. Authored by Republican Rep. Bryan Posthumus, the amendment mandates an ID for both in-person and absentee voting. Without an ID, voters could cast provisional ballots, verifiable within six days post-election.
The amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both the Michigan House and Senate to reach the ballot. Benson’s resistance to this measure has drawn criticism from conservatives who argue it’s essential for election security. Her stance aligns with her opposition to federal voter verification efforts.
Benson also rejects the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, reintroduced by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas. The SAVE Act seeks to amend the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, mandating documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. It aims to remove non-citizens from voter rolls nationwide.
The U.S. House passed the SAVE Act last year, but the Democratic-led Senate blocked it. Former President Trump recently issued an executive order requiring the Election Assistance Commission to enforce citizenship documentation on national voter registration forms within 30 days. This move has faced legal challenges from 19 Democratic state attorneys general.
Filed last Thursday in Massachusetts federal court, the lawsuit argues Trump’s order is unconstitutional. Non-citizen voting is already prohibited in federal, state, and most local elections. However, some municipalities in California, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., permit non-citizens to vote in local contests.
Fifteen states, including Alabama, Arizona, and Florida, explicitly restrict voting to U.S. citizens. Michigan lacks such a clear constitutional mandate, prompting Posthumus’s amendment. Conservatives argue this gap leaves elections vulnerable to fraud.
Benson’s September 2024 testimony claimed robust safeguards prevented non-citizen voting. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote,” she told the House Administration Committee. Her recent admission undermines that assurance, critics say. Last week, Benson called the 15 cases a “tiny fraction,” not justifying broad voter ID laws. She argued such measures would block thousands of eligible citizens from voting. “This illegal activity is very rare,” she stated, advocating for targeted enforcement.
Michigan House Speaker Pro Tempore Rachelle Smit expressed alarm over Benson’s reversal. She noted that 15 illegal votes canceled out legitimate ones, eroding public trust. “It’s deeply troubling to me that our Secretary of State told Congress that non-citizens weren’t voting in our elections just a couple of months before November,” Smit said Monday.
Rep. Posthumus echoed Smit’s concerns, warning of potential loopholes. He suggested the true number of non-citizen voters could be higher, given the difficulty of detection. His proposed amendment aims to close these gaps permanently.
Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office vowed to prosecute those responsible. A spokesperson emphasized holding violators accountable “to the fullest extent of the law.” Yet, with Benson’s office unresponsive to recent inquiries, questions linger about her commitment to election integrity.