Michigan Secretary of State Refuses Federal Demand for Voter Data
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has taken a firm stance against a federal government order requesting Michigan voter data. In a video released by her office, Benson emphasized that complying with the U.S. Department of Justice’s demand would violate state and federal privacy laws.
The Justice Department has initiated legal action against Benson, alleging that Michigan has not adequately cleaned its voter rolls of ineligible voters. According to the DOJ, Michigan’s rate of removing ineligible voters stands at 4.2%, significantly lower than the national average of 9.1%.
Benson, in response to the federal request, has refused to release the requested voter records, which include sensitive information such as driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. She reiterated that the Department of State is committed to maintaining strict privacy protections to safeguard voter data and prevent identity theft.
Notably, both Democratic and Republican secretaries of state across the country are pushing back against federal attempts to access their voter records. The DOJ has approached more than 30 states in its quest to obtain voter rolls, sparking resistance and legal challenges from state officials.
