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...
October 26th, 20221The following op-ed was submitted by James Pocock, major general, U.S. Army, retired; Thomas N. Edmonds, brigadier general, U.S. Air Force, retired; Axel A. Johnson, III, brigadier general, U.S. Army, retired; Mark A. Montjar, brigadier general, U.S. Army, retired; Donald Schenk, brigadier general, U.S. Amy, retired and Valerie...
October 20th, 20220LANSING — The Michigan Secretary of State's Office is reminding voters in the state that the Nov. 8 General Election is only three weeks away.
The state says absentee ballot numbers continue to grow – with 1.7 million already sent to voters who requested them and 432,960 returned as of Oct. 18.
The number far surpasses...
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...
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 17th, 20222DEARBORN — Voters in Dearborn can now expect translated materials in time for the August primary.
An effort to translate voting materials, including ballots, into Arabic in the city of Dearborn is now well underway, thanks to the work of a committee appointed by Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and the City Council.
The committee to...
April 26th, 20220Michigan's elections officials are encouraging voters to hand-deliver their absentee ballots to their local clerk’s office or ballot drop box, in the week leading up to the May 3 elections
Several Michigan communities, including Dearborn, are holding elections next Tuesday. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election...
April 16th, 20220DEARBORN - Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett appeared at the Dearborn City Council meeting this week to give her input, in public, to the city’s present language access efforts.
The Council passed a resolution in March, brought forth by Councilman Mustapha Hammoud, that sought to ensure ballots and other election materials would be...
November 11th, 20210LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed legislation Wednesday in hopes of saving drivers a trip to the Secretary of State’s office every year.
House Bill 4117 allows drivers to choose a two-year vehicle registration, helping to improve the convenience of Secretary of State services. Whitmer also signed Senate Bill 220, allowing for...
June 2nd, 20210The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will conduct a meeting at 5 p.m. and a public hearing at 6 p.m. on June 3 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Masks are required at all times while indoors.
Individuals are encouraged (but not required) to RSVP in advance to...
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...
February 19th, 20210WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration, through Secretary of State Antony Blinken, affirmed on Thursday it is willing to come to the negotiation table with Iran over a return to a nuclear accord, if Tehran came into full compliance with the deal.
The Iran Nuclear Deal, first struck in 2015, is aimed at preventing the country...
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 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 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...
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 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...
July 30th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump once again went after what he calls "universal mail-in voting" fraud, calling foul play and even considered delaying national elections "until people can properly, securely and safely vote."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1288818160389558273?s=20
But the U.S. Constitutions give...
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...
March 26th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as directed by President Trump, has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to 12 months beyond this year’s deadline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new deadline is now October 21, 2021.
Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement that the department...
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...
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...
