Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   The Michigan Department of State began an audit of the November election Monday. 

Audits are performed after every election in the state, but officials say this one is even more rigorous. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson planned to roll out this new type of audit months before President Donald Trump and Republican supporters falsely claimed there was widespread fraud in the November election.  She says the audit is a more statistically reliable way of affirming the ballots were accurately counted. 

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI (MPRN)--   The Michigan Bureau of Elections announced Wednesday it will conduct the most comprehensive election audit in state history.

The announcement comes after numerous unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and a protracted effort from both state and national Republicans to cast doubt on the integrity of Michigan’s election process.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says the audit was planned well before the election.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Republicans on the Wayne County vote-canvassing board said they now have second thoughts about certifying election results in the state’s largest voting jurisdiction.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says it’s too late for them to change their minds and throw the statewide election results into doubt.

That’s after GOP canvassers in Wayne County said in notarized statements that they felt pressured to reverse their votes and certify the results after initially balking.

LANSING, MI--   The Michigan Supreme Court did not respond to a request from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel to review challenges made to the legality of a directive issued by Secretary Benson on Oct. 16 that prohibited the open carry of firearms in limited locations on Election Day.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   The Michigan Supreme Court is the next stop in a legal fight over whether guns can be openly carried at polling places on Election Day. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) and Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) say guns can be intimidating – especially in a contentious election. But gun rights advocates say the state can’t step on a right that’s guaranteed under state law.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel say it’s not too late to reinstate a ban on openly carrying guns at or near polling places on Election Day.

They are appealing a court ruling that struck down a directive from Benson that banned open carry in and near polling places on Election Day.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   An appeal has been filed after a judge struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s ban on the open carry of guns at polling places on Election Day.

Unless it’s reversed by a higher court, Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray’s

decision applies to voting places and absentee counting boards next Tuesday. The only exception would be schools, churches and other places have banned open carry.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   A lawsuit is challenging the rules ordered by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for partisan poll challengers on Election Day. 

The complaint filed with the Michigan Court of Claims says distancing and face covering directives will make it too difficult for poll challengers to see what’s going on as voters are checked in at voting sites.

Matthew Gronda is an attorney representing a Republican state House candidate and an election day volunteer. 

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Gun rights groups have filed a legal challenge to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s ban on openly carrying firearms at or near polling places on Election Day. 

The rule bars the open carry of guns within 100 feet of a polling location, at a clerk’s office, or where an absentee ballot counting board meets.

The lawsuit claims Benson’s rule violates the Michigan Constitution and a state law that allows most people to openly carry a firearm in public places without a license. 

ANN ARBOR, MI (MPRN)--   Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says as of two weeks before Election Day, more than 3 million people have requested absentee ballots and more than half the requested ballots have already been cast. 

Benson says she's also committed to keeping the polls safe and secure for in-person voting.

“From a health standpoint we are doing all that data and best practices indicate are needed to ensure safe access to the polls on Election Day and. of course, physical safety is critical, as well.”