Michigan

Michigan: Threatening election workers could soon be felony | Ben Orner/mlive.com

Michigan State Rep. Kara Hope is advocating for legislation, House Bills 4129 and 4130, aimed at safeguarding election workers from harassment and intimidation. These bills, which have gained momentum with Democrats holding a majority in both legislative chambers, propose making it a felony to intimidate or obstruct the duties of election officials, with penalties including up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $1,000. The legislation, motivated by concerns over increasing political tensions and threats against election workers, is viewed as crucial for the smooth operation of elections. Read Article

Michigan: Antrim County election software ‘in the wild’ | Mardi Link/Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election security experts warn that protected images from Antrim County’s election equipment and a copy of the county’s election management software have been accessed and shared by unauthorized users in multiple states, including Georgia, Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. This comes after a data team in Georgia uploaded the information to an online storage folder in 2020. The election software used in Antrim County is used in many voting systems across the United States. Election security adviser Susan Greenhalgh has called for a federal investigation into what she describes as a “multi-state conspiracy” to undermine, disrupt, or tamper with elections by accessing and distributing election software. Read Article

Michigan fake elector described planning with Trump campaign attorneys: ‘Mike Pence and Congress [to] make that decision’ | Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck/CNN

Meshawn Maddock, one of the fake electors in Michigan appointed by Republicans in December 2020, revealed in a radio interview that the plan to use fake electors was coordinated with constitutional attorneys from the Trump campaign. Maddock’s comments contradict her recent statements, where she claimed only a “vague” recollection of the scheme. In the December 2020 interview, she acknowledged that the slate of fake electors could potentially override the legitimate elector votes on January 6, 2021, demonstrating her understanding of the plot. Maddock, who is currently facing charges for her involvement in the scheme, has been a vocal proponent of false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Read Article

Fury at Michigan officials charged in 2020 false electors scheme: ‘This isn’t who we are’ | Alice Herman/The Guardian

Sixteen Republicans in Michigan, including prominent local politicians, are facing anger, prosecution, and recall for their alleged involvement in signing a false electors certificate for Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election. The charges, which Michigan’s attorney general announced, have triggered a push for elected officials involved to resign. The accused individuals face felony charges, and their constituents are demanding accountability. This situation highlights the legal and ethical challenges surrounding the actions of these officials, with residents and good government groups calling for consequences in light of their attempt to overturn the election results. Read Article

Michigan: Dispute over documents delays considerations to move election tabulators trial | Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance

Attorneys Stefanie Lambert Junttila and Matt DePerno, along with former state representative Daire Rendon, are facing charges related to alleged tampering with voting tabulators following the 2020 presidential election. Lambert Junttila has requested to move the trial to Antrim County in Michigan, while Special Prosecutor DJ Hilson has argued that Oakland County Circuit Court is the proper venue due to the crimes being committed there. The judge will consider the request to move the trial in two weeks. The charges involve alleged attempts to access and tamper with voting tabulators in relation to the 2020 election. Read Article

Michigan voting machines exchanged at mall, ‘manipulated’ in hotels | Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan

Pro-Trump attorneys and a Michigan lawmaker are alleged to have enlisted a private investigator to collect 2020 voting machines that were later “manipulated” during testing in Oakland County hotels, according to newly disclosed allegations by a special prosecutor. The group, including attorneys Matthew DePerno and Stefanie Lambert (Junttila) and then-state Rep. Daire Rendon, allegedly illegally obtained the election equipment and kept some of it for months. They reportedly worked with private investigator Michael Lynch, who hosted the group and filmed testing on the machines to attempt to prove they had been rigged against former President Donald Trump. The allegations include unauthorized collection of voting equipment from various counties, manipulating the equipment’s computer system, and extended possession of the equipment. Charges have been filed against DePerno, Lambert, and Rendon. Read Article

Michigan pro-Trump lawyer’s texts shed light on voting machine probe | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

Stefanie Lambert Junttila, a Michigan lawyer aligned with former President Donald Trump, is facing criminal charges for allegedly plotting to seize voting machines after the 2020 election. Text messages obtained through a public records lawsuit show that she communicated with Doug Logan, former CEO of cybersecurity firm Cyber Ninjas, about gaining access to new voting machines in Michigan. She specifically requested Logan to keep this information secret. The investigation suggests that Lambert and other Trump allies tampered with the tabulators. Lambert is among several individuals charged in this matter, but Logan will not face criminal charges, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office. Read Article

Michigan trio indicted in voting machine breaches. Clerks and experts say it’s a warning for others. | Oralandar Brand-Williams/Votebeat Michigan

Three Michigan allies of former President Donald Trump were indicted and arraigned for their alleged involvement in an illegal plot to gain possession of voting machines used in the 2020 election and examine them in a failed attempt to prove election fraud. The indictment demonstrates that the rules and laws governing the security of Michigan’s election systems worked, according to experts and local clerks. The indictments may serve as a deterrent to others considering attempts to gain unauthorized access to voting machines. The suspects face felony charges related to possession of voting equipment, conspiracy, willful damage to voting machines, and unauthorized access to a computer system. Read Article

Michigan prosecutors charge Trump allies in felonies involving voting machines, illegal ‘testing’ | Joey Cappelletti/Associated Press

Matthew DePerno, a former Republican attorney general candidate who was endorsed by Donald Trump, and Daire Rendon, a supporter of Trump and a former Republican state representative, have been charged in Michigan for accessing and tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election. DePerno was charged with undue possession of a voting machine and conspiracy, while Rendon was charged with conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine and false pretenses. They are accused of taking five vote tabulators from three counties to a hotel room and performing “tests” on the equipment. Both have denied wrongdoing, but DePerno has been named as a “prime instigator” in the case. These charges are part of the legal consequences some are facing for crimes committed after embracing Trump’s false claim of a stolen election. The former president himself is also under investigation for election interference in Georgia. Read Article

Michigan lawsuit to ‘rerun’ 2020 election dismissed by federal judge | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to decertify the 2020 presidential election and order a new one. The lawsuit, filed against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, alleged malfeasance in the election results. The judge stated that many of the allegations lacked proof or resolution and were based on tired examples that have been debated for years. The lawsuit’s dismissal is another failed attempt to challenge the election outcome, with post-election audits and investigations upholding the results. Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of upholding democracy and the accuracy of elections. Read Article

Michigan clerk stripped of election duties after being charged for acting as fake elector in 2020 | Joey Cappelletti/Associated Pess

Stan Grot, the Shelby Township clerk in Michigan, will be prohibited from administering elections after being charged by the state attorney general for acting as a fake elector in the 2020 election for then-President Donald Trump. He was among 16 Republicans charged with signing false certificates stating that Trump won the state, not Biden. While Grot is innocent until proven guilty, his alleged role in the fake elector scheme undermines voter confidence in election integrity. Local clerks across the country have faced legal consequences for alleged crimes related to false claims about the 2020 election. Grot and the others are scheduled to appear in court on August 10. Read Article

Michigan judge rules law broadly bans ‘undue possession’ of voting machines | Craig Mauger/The Detroit News

Oakland County Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen has ruled that it is illegal to possess a voting tabulator without authorization from the Secretary of State’s office or a court order. The ruling comes as part of an ongoing case in Michigan, where a group of supporters of former President Donald Trump is being investigated for allegedly obtaining voting machines and spreading false claims of widespread voter fraud after the 2020 election. Under state law, undue possession of a tabulator is a felony. The ruling by Judge McMillen lays the groundwork for potential criminal charges in the case. Read Article

Michigan attorney in downstate election probe sought to move voting machine tampering case to Antrim County | Mardi Link/Traverse City Record-Eagle

Attorney Stefanie Lambert and others, accused of illegally obtaining voting machine tabulators after the 2020 presidential election, sought to move the case to Antrim County, Michigan, but were unsuccessful. The investigation by Michigan State Police involves allegations of a conspiracy to unlawfully access voting machines, and prosecutors are examining potential charges related to multiple crimes in multiple counties. The case involves allegations of orchestrated plans to gain access to voting tabulators and perform tests on the equipment. Lambert and others named in the investigation have denied any wrongdoing. The appointment of a special prosecutor is pending, and the issue of whether clerks have the authority to hand over election equipment without a court order is being debated in court. Read Article

Michigan: Charging decision in voting machine case imminent, per court record | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

A special prosecutor in Michigan has sought a court interpretation of state election law regarding allegations of voting machine breaches by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The investigation involves accusations against individuals such as former GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, lawyer Stefanie Lambert Junttila, and former state Representative Daire Rendon. The court’s forthcoming interpretation will likely inform potential criminal charges, and a charging decision is expected once the court delivers its ruling. The request for interpretation was made by Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson, who aims to clarify the legal possession of voting machine tabulators. The matter arose after Junttila’s attorney contested Hilson’s interpretation of the law. Read Article

Michigan voter reforms have made it a model for strengthening democracy, report says  | Jon King/Michigan Advance

A report by the Center for American Progress highlights Michigan’s election and voting reforms that have led to increased public trust in government. The report identifies three key components that have made Michigan a national model for strengthening democracy: increasing voter registration and turnout, ending partisan gerrymandering through an independent redistricting commission, and promoting citizen-initiated ballot measures. Michigan successfully implemented these reforms in a short period of time, including adding no-reason absentee voting, automatic voter registration, and early voting. The report also emphasizes Michigan’s ability to close the gap in voter registration and turnout between white and Black voters. The overall result of these reforms has been the building and maintenance of public confidence in the state’s democracy and election administration. Read Article

Michigan lawmakers move to enact voter-approved election changes | Clara Hendrickson/Detroit Free Press

Michigan lawmakers kicked off hearings Wednesday on legislation to update election laws to reflect changes approved by voters who passed a major expansion of voting rights in the state last November. Sixty percent of Michigan voters who participated in the 2022 midterm election approved Proposal 2 the “Promote the Vote” amendment to the state constitution. Among the most significant changes, the amendment requires election officials to offer at least nine days of early in-person voting during statewide and federal elections. Before the amendment’s adoption, Michigan voters could cast an absentee ballot in person leading up to Election Day. But now they will be able to cast an in-person ballot just as they would at their polling location, placing it into the tabulator themselves. Read Article

Michigan: Security concerns raised over internet voting for military spouses | Ben Orner/MLive

Michigan’s proposal to allow electronic ballot return over the internet is raising concerns among election security experts, including J. Alex Halderman, a cybersecurity expert and University of Michigan professor, who warns that it could seriously undermine the security of the state’s elections. While Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson argues that Michigan can maintain election integrity through a custom-built hybrid model, experts caution that no existing technology can fully resolve the inherent vulnerability to digital tampering in such systems, posing significant risks to democracy and voter confidence. Read Article

Michigan: Voters oust clerk who doubts election results | Associated Press

Voters in one of Michigan’s most conservative counties have ousted a small-town clerk accused of improperly handling voting equipment after casting doubt on President Joe Biden’s election victory. Stephanie Scott lost Tuesday’s recall election in Hillsdale County’s Adams Township to Suzy Roberts, who got 406 votes to Scott’s 214, according to unofficial results reported by the county clerk’s office. Roberts, a Republican who identifies as an independent, filed as non-party-affiliated in the recall election because Michigan law does not allow for challengers to file under the same political party, the Hillsdale Daily News reported previously. Scott had run unopposed as a first-time Republican candidate when she was chosen in the November 2020 election to handle the voting in Adams Township, a reliably Republican community where the ticket of Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received nearly 76% of the vote that year. But she joined a crew of GOP elections officials around the nation who have questioned the accuracy of U.S. voting systems. Scott is among a number of elections officials around the country accused of mishandling voting equipment in their zeal to uncover fraud.

Full Article: Voters oust Michigan clerk who doubts election results | AP News

Michigan: Secret grand jury has probed post-2020 examination of voting machines | Robert Snell Craig Mauger/The Detroit News

A special prosecutor in Michigan has used the secret tool of a grand jury to weigh criminal charges against a group of Donald Trump’s supporters who obtained and examined voting machines in the battleground state after the 2020 election. The grand jury has sought testimony from individuals as recently as early March in Oakland County, according to three sources familiar with the investigation, which centers on allegations of tampering with voting equipment. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss grand jury activity. The status of the investigation was unclear Monday, but the grand jury could represent one of a handful of opportunities nationally for criminal charges related to the push to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, the special prosecutor investigating the tampering of voting machines in Michigan, would not comment on the existence of the grand jury. “If a grand jury was convened, I would be prohibited by court order and statute to confirm or deny its existence,” Hilson said in a statement to The News. Hilson cited a state law that makes it a misdemeanor for a person to “publish or make known” any testimony and any proceeding conducted in connection with any grand jury inquiry. Multiple sources told The News in recent days they were legally barred from discussing what was happening behind the scenes with the investigation.

Full Article: Secret grand jury has probed post-2020 examination of voting machines in Michigan

Michigan: Ionia County board denies request to hand count votes for May election | Evan Sasiela/Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Ionia County will continue to utilize an optical scan machine for the May 2023 election after a request to hand count paper ballots was denied. The Ionia County Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 at its March 28 meeting to deny a request from the Ionia County Republican Party for a paper ballot hand count in the May 2 election. Kristie Walls, vice chair of the Ionia County Republican Party, said the request was made due to the election software being close-sourced — meaning it can only be accessed by the manufacturer — and that tabulation equipment has components made in China. Walls, who worked as a financial controller and IT manager for 15 years, said she’d like to see a resolution from the county to support the hand count of paper ballots. “Your public wants you to be aware that we are not confident in election equipment, and these are the reasons why we’re not confident in it,” Walls told the board. “We’d like your support.”

Full Article: Ionia County board denies request to hand count votes for May election

Michigan Court of Appeals deals blow to lawsuit tied to 2020 election | Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

It’s another loss in court for those trying to litigate Michigan’s 2020 presidential election. The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a lower-court ruling dismissing a lawsuit which challenged millions of dollars given to hundreds of local clerks’ offices before the 2020 election. The money came from a foundation run by social media billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The stated intent of the donations was to help the clerks conduct the election during the COVID pandemic. But some Republican voters sued, claiming the real intent was to serve as a “Get out the Vote” effort to help Democrat Joe Biden. Biden won Michigan and the presidency. Last year, a Michigan Court of Claims judge dismissed the suit. “Meritless lawsuits undermine citizens’ well-placed faith in our elections and remain one of the weapons used in the ongoing, multifaceted and well-funded attack on American democracy,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Full Article: Michigan Court of Appeals deals blow to lawsuit tied to 2020 election

Michigan: Tiny township pays for imposter 2020 election auditors’ damage | Mardi Link/Meadville Tribune

A tiny township in the remote woods of Michigan stands as a victim of 2020 vote auditing imposters who broke voting machines and have so far been uncharged and unaccountable, leaving Cross Village with a $5,000 bill even insurance won’t pay. Township Clerk Diana Keller tries to keep calm and carry on and was busy on a recent morning calling the National Weather Service in Gaylord, to report the lakeside community’s temperature and precipitation, a task she’s been doing for years. “On days like this I’m not sure why I do it,” she says, laughing off the challenges of being a volunteer weather-spotter in such a remote place. Fewer than 300 people live in this township year-round, residents are surrounded by forests and remote beaches, where the nearest large grocery store is a half-hour away — and that’s when the roads are clear.

Full Article: Tiny township in Michigan pays for imposter 2020 election auditors’ damage | News | meadvilletribune.com

Michigan House elections committee considers election security bills | Colin Jackson/Michigan Radio

Michigan legislation to ban guns from coming within 100 feet of polling locations and ballot counting centers got a hearing Tuesday before the state House Elections Committee.Representative Stephanie Young (D-Detroit) sponsors a bill in the package. She said her bill is for election workers who felt threatened during recent election cycles.“I believe that it is our job as legislators to do something about making certain people are safe and feel safe,” Young said during Tuesday’s meeting.It’s a sentiment some who spoke in opposition to the bill shared as well.That included Brady Schickinger of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. He said the bills should make an exception for licensed concealed carry.“We agree with the general intent of the bill. Everyone should feel safe while voting, but we can protect polling sites without a conflict with responsible gun ownership.” Schickinger said.Another pair of bills in the legislation would make it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to intimidate or keep an election official from doing their job.

Source: House elections committee considers election security bills

Michigan bills would ban guns at polls, punish election worker harassment | Ben Orner/MLive.com

Michigan House Democrats have introduced a package of bills they say will protect election officials and workers by increasing penalties for harassment and banning guns from voting locations. The four bills follow promises that Democrats have made early in this new legislature – where they hold majorities in both chambers – to further secure Michigan’s elections. House Bill 4127, introduced by East Lansing Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, and HB 4128, introduced by Detroit Rep. Stephanie Young, would make it illegal to possess a firearm at or 100 feet from polling places, ballot drop boxes, early voting locations and absentee vote counting boards. This ban already applies to churches, courts, sports arenas, day care centers, hospitals and more. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable with at worst 90 days in prison. Uniformed law enforcement officers are exempt. “Keeping guns away from polling places and counting boards is just common sense,” said Tsernoglou, the House Elections Committee chair, in a statement Thursday. “This legislation will help ensure we all can vote, free from intimidation.” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in 2020 issued a directive to ban open carry at polling places, but a judge struck down her ban before the November election, saying it’s up to the legislature.

Full Article: Bills would ban guns at Michigan polls, punish election worker harassment – mlive.com

Michigan Secretary of State once again calls for firearms ban at polling locations | Priya Vijayakumar/Michigan Radio

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Thursday that she wants to see legislation to ban firearms within 100 feet of polling places. “The time for only thoughts and prayers is over,” said Benson at the annual Judge Damon Keith Memorial Soul Food Luncheon. Benson issued a similar directive to local clerks to ban the open carry of firearms at polling places in 2020. But a judge struck down that directive. The plan now is to include the gun ban in legislation on voting rights that’s being drafted. “Our kids deserve to go to school free from fear of gun violence. They deserve to go to church or synagogues or mosques with their families to worship free from fear of gun violence,” said Benson. “They deserve to live in a democracy where their voices are heard and where they can cast their ballots free from intimidation or threats of violence. That is the world I am fighting for.” Benson is collaborating with lawmakers and local election officials on the legislation.

Full Article: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson once again calls for firearms ban at polling locations

Michigan election worker charged with equipment tampering wants Kent County case tossed | Bradley Massman/MLive

An attorney representing a man charged for allegedly tampering with a voting machine wants his client’s case dismissed because of a lack of evidence, court records show. A motion filed in Kent County Circuit Court last month requests a judge to dismiss the charges against 68-year-old James D. Holkeboer. Holkeboer is charged with falsifying records/returns under election law and using a computer to commit a crime for allegedly tampering with a voting machine after the primary election last August. In the motion to quash, defense attorney Charles E. Chamberlain Jr. argued there is no evidence that Holkeboer fraudulently removed or secreted a voter list. “The felony complaint provides that on or about Aug. 3, 2022, Mr. Holkeboer, ‘being an inspector of election, did fraudulently remove or secrete, in whole or in part, an election list of voters, which are required to be made, filed, or preserved by the Michigan election law …,” the motion states. Holkeboer was hired as an election inspector in Precinct 8 for Gaines Township for the Aug. 2 primary election. He is not an employee of Kent County or Gaines Township, but was a resident trained and certified by clerks to work at precincts during elections as well as at absentee ballot counting boards.

Full Article: Election worker charged with equipment tampering wants Kent County case tossed

With a roll of the dice, Michigan begins audit of 2022 election | Ben Orner/MLive.com

Over the next month, state and local election officials will audit Michigan’s 2022 general election, checking the accuracy of results and security of procedures. These more than 200 audits across counties, cities and townships will see Bureau of Elections staff and county clerks review ballots and election administration in randomly selected precincts and identify best practices for future elections. “It is somewhat like a recount, but it is not a recount,” said Michigan elections director Jonathan Brater. “What we’re doing is counting enough containers across the state to make sure that – within a statistical level of certainty – we’re confident that the tabulators got the proper result.” Brater watched Thursday as a handful of local election officials and bureau staff rolled a 10-sided die to determine which batches of ballots will be hand-counted to check the accuracy of Michigan’s vote tabulation machines.

Full Article: With a roll of the dice, Michigan begins audit of 2022 election – mlive.com

Michigan lawmakers announce plans to protect election officials in wake of threats | Anna Gustafson/Michigan Advance

After threats against election workers have soared in the wake of a right-wing campaign to push lies about the 2020 election, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Democratic lawmakers announced Tuesday plans to protect election officials and crack down on those intentionally sharing misinformation about elections and voting. “As Michigan’s chief election officer, my responsibility is to ensure that our elections are accessible, safe, secure, and that the results are an accurate reflection of the will of the people,” Benson said during Tuesday’s press conference. “It’s a role that increasingly forces all of us in this work, whether we consider ourselves Republican, Democrat or independent, to endure threats, harassment, false and malicious attacks on our character and integrity, and sometimes even violence. “We cannot have a secure democracy if we do not protect the security of the people who administer, protect and stand guard over our elections,” Benson continued.

Full Article: Benson, Dem lawmakers announce plans to protect election officials in wake of threats ⋆ Michigan Advance

Michigan: Accuracy affirmed or errors exposed? Inside the proposal recount | Ben Orner/Live.com

The rustling of paper overtakes a city hall meeting room as election workers recount thousands of ballots by hand from four central Michigan counties. Votes examined here are among hundreds of thousands from 43 counties recounted since last Wednesday. So far, results have changed very, very little. But where election officials say they’ve seen the accuracy of Michigan’s midterm election upheld, the group behind the recount says it’s seen evidence of misconduct. “[The recount] was just to make sure that the election was accurate and run properly,” said Stefanie Lambert, a lawyer for Election Integrity Force, which requested the recount. “And there’s some very interesting problems that were discovered.” Despite the recount’s massive breadth, which Lambert said came via random sample, Proposals 2 and 3 passed by too many votes to be overturned – about 1.4 million votes combined. Prop 2 expands voting rights, including nine days of early in-person voting, and Prop 3 protects abortion rights. When the Board of State Canvassers greenlit the recount, chair Tony Daunt – a Republican – worried it was a bad-faith “fishing expedition” to further false claims of widespread fraud that originated after the 2020 election.

Full Article: Accuracy affirmed or errors exposed? Inside Michigan’s proposal recount – mlive.com