Michigan’s Voter Rolls Have 500,000 Extra Names: Here’s What You Need to Know

Michigan’s voter rolls are under scrutiny for having nearly 500,000 more registered voters than eligible voting-age citizens, raising concerns from Republicans about potential fraud. The imbalance is partly due to a 2018 voter-approved law that automatically registers voters when they apply for a driver’s license unless they opt out. While the state plans to remove inactive voters by 2027, critics argue that the inflated rolls could increase opportunities for fraud, though no significant cases have been proven.

Key Points to Know:

• Voter Rolls vs. Eligible Voters: Michigan’s current voter rolls list 8.4 million registered voters, compared to the state’s 7.9 million voting-age population. This is the largest discrepancy in the Great Lakes region.
• Republican Lawsuit: The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit against the state, demanding a reduction in voter numbers, arguing that it creates opportunities for potential fraud. However, the state counters that the imbalance has not led to any significant fraud, and similar lawsuits have been dismissed in the past.
• State’s Plan: Michigan plans to remove over 600,000 inactive voters from the rolls by 2027. Federal law limits how quickly inactive voters can be removed, making it a lengthy process.
• Fraud Concerns: Despite the concern, experts, including retired state officials, say voter fraud related to these extra names is extremely rare. In most cases, fraud allegations turn out to be unfounded.

What Is Causing the Inflation in Voter Rolls?

A key contributor to the inflated voter rolls is the 2018 voter-approved Proposal 3, which automatically registers people to vote when they apply for a driver’s license, unless they choose to opt out. This system ensures that more people are being added to the voter rolls, but it also makes it difficult to remove inactive or outdated registrations. This has led to more registered voters than the actual population eligible to vote.

According to Michigan state law, removing inactive voters from the rolls is a slow process due to federal regulations. The state must notify voters if their mail is undeliverable, and they must fail to vote in two consecutive federal elections before they can be removed.

Republican Concerns and Lawsuits

The Republican National Committee (RNC) sued Michigan earlier this year, demanding that the state clean up its voter rolls. Their main concern is that bloated voter rolls could create opportunities for potential fraud, even though no major fraud has been proven related to these inflated numbers. The GOP filed a similar lawsuit in 2020, which was dismissed after thousands of inactive voters were removed.

Despite the legal battles, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson maintains that the extra names on the rolls do not suggest fraud. A spokesperson for Benson noted that these lawsuits are an attempt to undermine trust in the election process, particularly as Michigan plays a pivotal role in national elections.

What Michigan Is Doing to Address the Issue

Michigan plans to remove 606,800 inactive voters from its rolls by 2027. This process is expected to bring the number of registered voters down to just over 7.8 million, more in line with the state’s eligible voting population.

As of now, Michigan ranks among the top states with an imbalance between the voter roll numbers and eligible voting population. Despite efforts to streamline the process, the state’s voter rolls remain one of the most bloated in the nation.

Why Inactive Voters Are Difficult to Remove

Federal law restricts how and when states can remove inactive voters from their rolls. A voter is only removed when the state confirms they have moved to another state, or if mail sent to their address is returned as undeliverable. Even then, voters have to miss two consecutive federal elections before their names can be legally taken off the list.

This process can take years, meaning that inactive voters, deceased individuals, or those who have moved to another state can remain on the voter rolls for a long time.

Is There Evidence of Voter Fraud?

Despite the concerns, election officials and experts assert that there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud in Michigan. Chris Thomas, a former state elections director, said that fraud is rare and unlikely to occur on a large scale due to the checks and balances in place.

While isolated cases of fraud do happen—like the recent instance where four voters in St. Clair Shores were chargedMichigan’s voter rolls list 500,000 more names than the eligible voting population, sparking lawsuits and concerns about potential fraud ahead of upcoming elections. with voting twice in the August primary—these cases are not linked to inflated voter rolls.

In 2020, claims of dead voters casting ballots in Michigan were investigated and debunked, further reinforcing that voter impersonation fraud is rare.

What’s Next?

As Michigan heads into another important election season, the debate over its bloated voter rolls is likely to continue. The state plans to address the issue by gradually removing inactive voters, but for now, the rolls remain inflated, and political tension over the issue is high. Both parties will be closely watching the handling of voter registration as the election approaches.

Source: https://bridgemi.com

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