(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/01/2023) The Secretary of State's office estimates state and local election operations will need up to $45 million to implement the voting reforms baked into Proposal 2 of 2022.
During this year's inaugural Senate Elections and Ethics Committee hearing, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reiterated how some jurisdictions have seen the cost of elections increase more than 60% in the last few years. According to her office's estimations, the price tag to fund Michigan's elections is roughly $100 million annually, which is approximately $20,000 per voting precinct.
The cost of Michigan's elections is projected to grow. Proposal 2 requires at least nine days of early voting, one 24-hour ballot drop box per 15,000 voters, an absentee ballot tracking system and prepaid stamps for absentee ballots.
“I hope we can work together to ensure these needs are met,” Benson said.
Benson also wants the elections committee to pass legislation prohibiting: "the deceptive practices that involve intentionally sharing false information about our elections or a person's right to vote." Benson said her office also wants to provide funds to ensure security among election workers, voters and the elections themselves.
"Our office was able to make $8 million available for that purpose in last year's election. Clerks took advantage of it, but it clearly was not enough," Benson said.
In her remarks, Attorney General Dana Nessel listed off things her department did in regard to elections, in concert with other departments, "that didn't used to be necessary prior to the 2020 election."
She said before the election and over the course of months, special agents from her office participated in weekly meetings with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Michigan State Police (MSP), local law enforcement agencies and the Department of State.
When Election Day arrived, Nessel said the special agents from the Attorney General's office set up command posts in Lansing and Detroit where FBI personnel, other state workers and analysts were also available to answer questions through an election timeline established by her office.
"Our agents responded to many, many calls and complaints relaying information back in real time," Nessel said. "And then following the elections, our special agents for this particular election, 2022, were asked to escort the Board of Canvassers, all of them, along with the Bureau of Elections members, to and from the certification vote."
Nessel said Michigan's State Board of Canvassers did not previously need police escorts, but they do now.
When Chair Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) asked what are some of the most "sequentially front-burning items that have more timeline restrictions" that the committee should have completed early on this year, Benson said "funding, flexibility and protecting the people who protect democracy."
The Attorney General echoed Benson's concerns nearly right afterward by saying "what she said" in response to Moss' question.
