Benson’s BOE Continues to Fight Citizen Voting Proposal

Lansing, MI – Today, the Michigan Secretary of State Department (SOS) sent a response to the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) opposing the request from Americans for Citizen Voting (ACV) to approve its ballot initiative for the November election.

Last week, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers (BOC) deadlocked on approving the ballot initiative, despite ACV submitting more than 700,000 signatures. The Democrat members of the BOC played partisan games with the proposal, deadlocking the board on multiple signatures, despite sworn affidavits from a number of voters verifying them. 

After receiving no response from the Democrat-led Michigan Supreme Court, ACV took its fight to SCOTUS and asked them to do the job Michigan Democrats refused to. Unlike the Michigan Court, SCOTUS promptly requested a reply from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Bureau of Elections (BOE). 

Sadly, Benson’s BOE continued its crusade to silence the Michiganders who signed this petition, opposing ACV’s request for an injunction from SCOTUS. 

ACV’s proposal would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and add a voter I.D. requirement at the polls. Notably, as Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson allowed more than a dozen non-citizens to vote in the 2024 election.

“It’s time to stop playing partisan politics and allow Michiganders to have their voices heard,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “The people of Michigan deserve a chance to decide on this proposal themselves.”