DOJ Wants To Double-Check Who Is Voting In Michigan

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/24/2025) The U.S. Department of Justice this week asked Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to send it numbers on how many non-citizens and felons are voting in Michigan and what the state is doing to scrub out duplicate voter registrations in compliance with federal law.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael E. Gates said in the letter the DOJ is following up on a complaint and other information that the number of registered voters listed on Michigan's list is 95.1 percent of the state's voting age population. The Department of Justice is also following up on information that Michigan is reporting 1,869,580 duplicate registrations, among other things.

In response, Benson told MIRS she's aware of the letter, and she's been speaking with the Secretaries of State in other states to see what federal officials are looking for. California elections officials have had conversations with the Department of Justice. Colorado's appear to be next.

“It appears to be mostly focused on list maintenance, which we're in a good place,” Benson said.

Asked if she's concerned the request is political, Benson said, “Of course, it's political, but we're happy to talk to them about all the work we're doing to make sure our voting rolls are accurate.”