2022 Michigan Secretary of State Voters Guide
Jocelyn Benson (D) vs Kristina Karamo (R)
The Candidates
Expand. In 2020 sent absentee ballot applications to every registered voter, though not in 2022. Says, “Voting by mail is easy, convenient, safe, and secure, and every voter in Michigan has the right to do it.” Supports early voting and allowing military voters to return ballots electronically. Created a nonpartisan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force to promote youth voting. Wants felony punishments for harassing or threatening election officials at home.
Mostly limit. Opposes Proposal 2, which would amend the state constitution to allow nine days of early voting, allow qualified and registered voters to apply to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future elections, and require prepaid postage for absentee ballots. Said she would enforce the measures if passed. She would support making Election Day a holiday and securing funding to make public transit free on Election Day.
Yes. More than 250 election audits “confirmed the integrity and accuracy of the 2020 general election,” as did a Republican-led state Senate report that “found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud.” “Michigan’s election was conducted securely and fairly, and the results accurately reflect the will of the voters.”
No. Said in Dec 2020, “Donald Trump won Michigan.” Claimed to personally witness irregularities in absentee ballot processing. Says she chose to run for office seeking to “remove corruption from our elections.” Has spoken nationwide about her belief that the 2020 election was decided illegitimately, including attending a conference organized by QAnon adherents, though she said that she personally doesn’t support QAnon.
Yes, but appropriate measures have been taken. “The security of our elections in Michigan has always been of paramount importance to all of my predecessors, and you’ve not seen evidence of the types of potential threats that have impacted systems in other states.” But “the threats to our elections did not end in 2016, and they will continue to evolve, and we must be prepared.” In 2019 created a position of elections security specialist.
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