Hastings Charter Township Clerk David Olson has publicly appealed to federal authorities for assistance in identifying and removing non-citizens from Michigan’s voter rolls. His plea follows a whistleblower’s claim that the Michigan Secretary of State’s office is automatically registering non-citizens to vote when they update their addresses.
Automatic Voter Registration Raises Concerns
The controversy centers on a whistleblower from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office who informed Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf that the state’s election system automatically registers individuals to vote when they change their address—even if they are not citizens. According to the whistleblower, the customer and automotive records system is programmed to register these individuals without citizenship verification.
When the whistleblower raised this issue with a supervisor, they were reportedly told that local clerks would catch and remove any non-citizens from the voter rolls. Clerk Olson strongly disputes this assertion, explaining that once a person is entered into the Qualified Voter File (QVF), there is no mechanism for local clerks to verify citizenship status or remove ineligible voters.
Local Clerks Lack Tools to Detect Non-Citizens
Olson emphasized the limitations faced by local election officials, stating that after the Secretary of State’s office registers a voter, clerks only receive access to the QVF, which does not flag citizenship. This means non-citizens can be issued ballots, including absentee ballots, without detection.
“Once it’s in the qualified voter file, there’s no way for me to verify citizenship,” Olson said in his video message. He expressed willingness to cooperate with federal authorities to ensure the integrity of his township’s voter rolls, welcoming any assistance to verify and cleanse the lists of ineligible voters.
Sheriff Dar Leaf Calls for Legislative and Federal Action
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf, known for his focus on election integrity, has taken the whistleblower’s claims seriously. He has referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice for investigation into possible violations of federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 611, which prohibits unlawful voting by non-citizens.
Leaf has also urged the Michigan Legislature to act swiftly to halt the automatic registration of non-citizens. He encourages anyone with additional information to come forward, underscoring the importance of protecting election integrity.
Implications for Michigan’s Election System
The allegations suggest that Michigan’s voter registration software is designed to automatically register individuals who update their addresses, regardless of citizenship status. This process reportedly occurs without meaningful oversight or verification, creating vulnerabilities in the state’s election system.
Local clerks, who are responsible for maintaining accurate voter rolls, are effectively unable to prevent or correct these registrations due to the limitations of the QVF and the registration process controlled by the Secretary of State’s office.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has faced criticism for not providing voter roll data to the Department of Justice for review and removal of non-citizens. Critics argue that maintaining non-citizens on voter rolls could influence elections and affect public resources.
Clerk Olson’s public request for federal involvement highlights the challenges faced by local officials in safeguarding election integrity amid systemic issues at the state level.
Conclusion: A Push for Federal and State Intervention
The situation in Michigan underscores ongoing concerns about voter registration processes and the verification of voter eligibility. With a whistleblower revealing automatic registration of non-citizens and local officials unable to detect or remove them, there is mounting pressure on both federal and state authorities to intervene.
As calls for investigation and legislative reform grow louder, Michigan’s election system faces scrutiny over its ability to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in the democratic process. Clerk Olson’s appeal to the Department of Justice marks a significant step in seeking accountability and protecting the integrity of elections in the state.
Source: Read the original reporting.
