Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will tell a congressional panel that “lies,” threats to election workers and foreign interference are big concerns heading into the final weeks of this year’s political campaigns.

According to a copy of her testimony shared with the Michigan Public Radio Network, Benson will say that, although she is an elected Democrat, the role of the secretary of state or other election officials is not partisan or political.

“But it is a role that increasingly forces us — whether we consider ourselves Republicans, Democrats, or independents — to endure threats, harassment, false and malicious attacks on our character and integrity,” she said. “Why? Because of lies — about our work, about the security of our elections and our own integrity.”

Benson will appear alongside a bipartisan group of six secretaries of state, many from states considered competitive in the presidential race. Benson’s statement includes warnings about foreign interference in U.S. elections, and threats and harassment faced by election workers. Her statement also includes concerns about underfunding of elections and the need to maintain and update voting technology.

It is likely Benson can expect to face some tough questions from the Republican-controlled House Committee on Administration.

Read more:

• Benson, election officials hail recent reforms at press conference
• County clerks on security, early voting in the 2024 general election
• What Jocelyn Benson has been doing to protect Michigan’s elections

After the 2020 elections, false voter fraud accusations have caused there to be a greater focus on county clerks who oversee the voting process. On this week’s episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Services’ Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben sat down with Republican Clerk of Macomb County, Anthony Forlini, and Democratic Clerk of Kalamazoo County, Meredith Place, about their confidence in the voting process.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Debunked voter fraud accusations about the 2020 presidential election
• Proposal 2 and the growing prevalence of early voting
• Confidence in the 2024 voting process

Forlini and Place both expressed their confidence in the voting process, rejecting false claims made about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Forlini specifically addressed the claims made by his party about voting machines that were allegedly tampered with in the 2020 election. In response to the allegations, ballot machine maker Dominion Voting Systems filed several defamation lawsuits against those who spread conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s loss — including Fox News, which settled with the company for $787 million last year.

“President Trump never brought up the machines were corrupt. He never brought that up. If he did, he would have been sued,” Forlini said. “I think people are taking the concern they had and applying it to the tabulators. That’s not where they belong. I haven’t seen any instance in the state of Michigan where tabulators were compromised. It may be more human issues than the tabulators themselves.”  

Early voting has grown in popularity since the 2020 elections, Place says, adding that it’s something voters are going to have to get used to.

“The first time I ever voted was in my dorm using early voting. When Prop 2 passed, like most clerks, I was a little nervous because of the amount of changes,” said Place. “However, I was excited to get to work and to get to work with the 19 local clerks throughout Kalamazoo County on implementing all of the requirements that were passed by our voters in 2022.” 

The 2024 election is on Nov. 5.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Forlini and Place.

More from WDET:

• Whitmer shares goals for Democratic Party, Michigan ahead of DNC address
• Requests for November absentee ballots now open
• Distrust in political system could keep many Detroiters from voting, U-M survey shows