May 6th, 20230LANSING – On May 4, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced improvements to the mechanic certification process. Updated certification exams now cover current automotive technology and can be taken at students’ schools instead of Secretary of State Offices.
“Making mechanic tests available at schools where students already...
May 1st, 20230LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson received the Brennan Center for Justice at 2023 Legacy Award at a ceremony in New York City on April 25. Benson was selected for the national honor for her work protecting fair elections in Michigan and defending American democracy.
“I am deeply honored and accept this on behalf of the...
November 11th, 20220The midterm elections shocked most observers and political experts throughout the nation. While Republicans gained a few seats in the Congress, and may perhaps still win the majority there, nothing like the widely predicted "Red Wave" came to fruition. The Senate is still up for grabs, and Democrats scored a number of major victories...
November 9th, 20220Governor Whitmer enters her second term with Democrats likely to control all levels of power in the State Capitol for the first time since the 1980s and backed by a dramatic show of voters’ support for keystone Democratic issues, including abortion and voting rights.
But even as state Democrats celebrated their sweep of state...
November 5th, 20220Michigan's midterm election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and among the races at stake are for governor, secretary of state and attorney general.
There are also three ballot proposals that could change the state's constitution, all 13 seats in the U.S. Congress and all the State House and Senate seats.
The midterm elections will likely...
November 4th, 20221The last days into a tight race between Democrats and Republicans for control in Michigan have seen a push by both parties to gain favor among local Arab Americans.
Though most polls put incumbent Democratic Governor Whitmer ahead of her GOP opponent, Tudor Dixon, the Nov. 8 race is tighter than what the Democrats would have hoped...
October 28th, 20220DEARBORN — Hundreds of community members joined state and local officials at a packed Byblos Banquet Center in Dearborn for the 25th annual banquet for Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) on Thursday.
Those in attendance and on the speakers' list were Democratic leaders and November election hopefuls Governor Whitmer,...
September 23rd, 20220DETROIT - Officials from Huntington Bank joined Detroit, Wayne County and state officials on Wednesday for the grand opening of Huntington Tower, the first large new downtown Detroit building to be completed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tower was originally envisioned to be the headquarters for Chemical Bank,...
September 9th, 20220Michigan voters are reminded that they can now apply to vote absentee in the Nov. 8 general election.
Voters choosing to vote by mail are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible to avoid postal delays.
All voters registered in Michigan are eligible to vote absentee. In 2018, voters removed barriers to absentee...
September 2nd, 20220In the race for governor, Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer appears to be well ahead of her Republican opponent — by double digits in fact.
Results from a statewide August poll conducted by EPIC-MRA shows that Whitmer has an 11-point lead over Dixon, a comfortable lead in what's sure to be a contentious race in November. But...
July 6th, 20220LANSING — State election officials are reminding voters that Michigan’s statewide primary elections are just under four weeks away.
Voters can already cast their ballots for the Tuesday, Aug. 2 primary from home or vote early in person by absentee ballot at their local clerk’s office. Or they can vote at their polling place on...
June 23rd, 20220LANSING — Absentee ballots for the August 2 primary election are now available through local clerks' offices, the Michigan Secretary of State announced this week.
The ballots will soon be mailed to voters who have already applied to vote absentee.
To apply for an absentee ballot, track an absentee ballot or find more...
June 2nd, 20210LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Democratic lawmakers want $25 million to hire more staff and pay overtime to employees.
The money would go towards expanding appointments and hours at branch offices that are facing large backlogs of transactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the spending is approved by the...
April 29th, 20210The U.S. Census Bureau unveiled its first wave of data from the 2020 Census on Monday, April 29, showing Michigan’s population has grown by 2 percent since 2010’s count.
The population growth means more federal funding for the state, an approximately $250 million a year increase, which will be spread across state programs, grants...
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...
