Secretary of State Calls for Legislative Changes for Elections

Liz Gullett

Secretary of State Calls for Legislative Changes for Elections

May 20, 2022

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is calling for legislative changes that she believes are needed ahead of this year’s statewide elections. This November, several major elections will take place in Michigan, including Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Michigan Supreme Court Justices, and all Senate and House seats. According to the Secretary, the necessary changes include:

- Allowing absentee ballots to be preprocessed. Currently they can’t be processed until election day, which causes delayed results.
- An annual $100 million appropriation to townships, cities, and counties for elections, ensuring stable funding for equipment, technology, and security.
- Increase penalties for anyone who threatens, harasses, or doxxes election workers. Recently, election officials, workers, and volunteers have become increased targets of threats and harassment.
- Allow military service members and their spouses overseas to return their ballots electronically.

Each of the changes would require action by the legislature in order to become state law.

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