The bedrock of our Republic rests upon the assurance that our elections are fair, secure, and transparent. Every legal vote must count, and the process itself must be beyond reproach, especially in crucial battleground states where national outcomes often hinge on the thinnest of margins. Americans deserve confidence in the system. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet sometimes, you have to wonder.

Much of that confidence relies on the diligence and impartiality of state officials, particularly the Secretaries of State tasked with overseeing the electoral process. These individuals hold positions of immense trust, acting as the guardians of the democratic process within their jurisdictions. Their commitment must be to the law and the voter, not political agendas. That’s the ideal, anyway. The reality, as we often see, can be… different.

And when that trust is shattered, whether through perceived incompetence, partisan maneuvering, or a blatant failure to uphold established laws, the very legitimacy of our elections comes into question. Citizens rightly become concerned, even alarmed, when those in charge appear to undermine, rather than safeguard, the integrity of the ballot box.

One such official now facing intense scrutiny is Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson. An election integrity watchdog, the Fair Election Fund, recently undertook a detailed review of Benson’s performance, focusing on the 2024 election cycle. Their conclusion? A dismal “D” grade. Yes, a D! You read that right. The report cites numerous actions that have undermined “the confidence of voters in Michigan.” Apparently, just enforcing the rules isn’t high on the list for some.

Ignoring Clear Threats?

The concerns raised are not some minor bureaucratic quibbles; they cut to the heart of election security. The Fair Election Fund report highlights Benson’s own admission that at least 15 non-citizens managed to vote in Michigan’s last election. While Benson herself called this a “serious issue,” she curiously framed it as one needing a “scalpel, not a sledgehammer.” ‘A scalpel’? Really? For something as fundamental as citizenship determining voting rights? Yet, this same official opposed the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This is a commonsense measure designed to ensure only citizens vote by requiring proof like a passport or birth certificate. Makes you wonder what the real priority is, doesn’t it?

This approach seems particularly baffling given specific instances under her watch. One example is the case of a Chinese national who allegedly registered and voted using a student ID before – get this – turning himself in. The watchdog noted pointedly that this individual was caught only because he confessed. Indeed, Benson’s supposed safeguards failed entirely. Caught because he confessed – thank goodness for his conscience, because the system certainly didn’t catch him. Robust security, eh? Downplaying the non-citizen voting issue while actively resisting stronger verification measures? It just doesn’t add up.

Rules Don’t Apply?

Beyond the critical issue of citizenship verification, Benson’s tenure has been marked by repeated legal battles over her attempts to seemingly rewrite election procedures on the fly. A Michigan judge recently struck down guidance from Benson that instructed clerks to initially presume absentee ballot signatures were valid. Judge Christopher Yates minced no words, ruling the guidance was explicitly “a foul under Michigan law.” Even a judge called it what it was – a ‘foul’!

And get this: it wasn’t a one-off mistake. According to the watchdog, she tried this multiple times. The Fair Election Fund emphasized the seriousness of this pattern:

From ‘Fair Election Fund report (via Daily Caller)’:

This was particularly egregious because this is not the first time Secretary Benson had attempted to create a presumption of validity for signatures — it was at minimum her third attempt. In 2020, she attempted to create the presumption by including it in her guidance to clerks, which ultimately resulted in a court ruling her actions were unlawful and violated the Michigan’s administrative procedure act.

Such repeated attempts to implement guidance found unlawful suggest, at best, a troubling disregard for established legal processes and judicial rulings. It looks less like oversight and more like trying to put a thumb on the scale.

Competence in Question

Concerns also extend to the fundamental task of maintaining clean voter rolls – you know, basic election administration 101. The watchdog report notes that Benson admitted, only after “vigorously” denying allegations, that Michigan’s rolls lacked “sufficient comprehensive efforts” for maintenance back in 2020. Admitted after fighting it… notice a pattern here? While a recent RNC lawsuit alleging ongoing failures was dismissed on technical grounds (an appeal is underway), the pattern of deny, deny, deny… until you can’t anymore? It doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

As Jocelyn Benson reportedly eyes a run for Governor, her record as Secretary of State warrants close, skeptical examination. The findings of the Fair Election Fund paint a picture not of diligent oversight, but of an official whose actions have repeatedly drawn legal challenges, raised serious security concerns, and earned sharp judicial condemnation. And after all this, she reportedly wants a promotion to Governor? You honestly can’t make this stuff up. Upholding election integrity demands adherence to the law and unwavering commitment to secure processes – standards Michigan voters, and frankly all Americans, deserve and must demand.

Key Takeaways

• Michigan’s Secretary of State earned a failing “D” grade for undermining election integrity.
• Courts repeatedly found Benson’s election guidance unlawful, showing disregard for the rule of law.
• Benson’s actions increased risks of non-citizen voting while resisting stronger voter ID measures.
• Lack of accountability for basic election security failures cannot be tolerated from officials.

Source: Daily Caller