Insider Intelligence

The results of a Risk-Limiting Audit pilot conducted on the March 10 presidential primary results suggested their accuracy and security and reinforced the state’s preparedness for elections in August and November. The pilot, in which 80 out of 83 counties participated, randomly sampled ballots from 277 jurisdictions across the state. The exercise, the largest of […]

Beginning June 1, Secretary of State offices across the state will reopen by appointment only for essential transactions not available online. All 131 branch offices will be open Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Strict health safety protocol will be followed, including wearing masks, using desk shields, and disinfection of shared or […]

Former Secretary of State, Senator Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week urging her to postpone the May 5 election and combine it with the August election. She feels this will give clerks enough time to prepare and it will protect election workers and the public. Her letter was in […]

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that Adam Reames will serve as the legislative policy director for the Department of State. Currently, he serves as the assistant secretary of the Michigan Senate, a position he’s held for more than 10 years. At the Senate, he oversaw legislative procedures, training for new members, and daily operations […]

Melissa Smiley has been appointed the new chief of staff for the Michigan Department of State by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson beginning January 6, 2020. Currently, she is the vice president of strategy and operations at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and previously served as the deputy chief of staff for City of […]

Sally Williams, the Michigan Elections Director, has announced her retirement effective December 31. Ms. Williams has spent more than thirty-years working at the Department of State and has served in her current role since June 2017. She’s served in several roles throughout the department, including the Election Liaison Division director, assistant to the chief of […]

In her most recent opinion, Attorney General Dana Nessel determined that portions of Public Act 608 of 2018, which made changes to laws governing signature collections, is unconstitutional. Passed at the end of the last session, the reforms were controversial throughout the process. After taking office, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson requested an opinion on […]

How can Michigan become a leader in transparency and accountability and restore the public’s trust in government? This week, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson shared her ideas on how Michigan could accomplish those goals. Her plan includes working with the legislature toward full disclosure of all money in politics through revising reporting requirements and closing […]