Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is also a Democratic nominee for governor, stated on Sunday that she will use all available tools to ensure voters "know the truth about our elections" heading into the November midterms. This comes after a federal judge blocked new requirements for mail-in ballots that would have restricted voting access, particularly for marginalized groups. The Trump administration has asked the high court to intervene three times in this matter, with no ruling on the plan's legality yet. Benson mentioned that while there were 22 cases of non-citizens voting in Michigan's last general election, her office has taken steps to ensure accurate voter rolls and identified only a handful of ineligible voters.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is also the Democratic nominee for governor, has vowed to ensure that voters "know the truth about our elections" ahead of the November midterms. This pledge comes after a federal judge blocked a Trump administration effort to restrict mail-in voting, which critics feared would disproportionately affect marginalized groups. The judge's ruling effectively extends an existing order that bars the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new requirements for mail-in ballots, which were part of a series of executive orders issued by President Trump in March. Benson emphasized that her department will "use every tool in our toolbox" to protect the right to vote and follow the law. She is facing Republican Rep. John James in the November election.
Written for “Michigan Election Integrity” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6041: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-07
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Sunday that she will ensure that her state's voters "know the truth about our elections" heading into the November midterms, after a federal judge again
the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting, and as its wider effort to cast doubt on the validity of the elections continues.
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effort → say → elections
"We will use every tool in our toolbox," Benson said Sunday on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
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Benson → use → Brennan
"We'll follow the law.
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We → follow → law
We'll protect the right to vote.
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We → protect → right
And that's why, frankly, state officials who know how to do that, to stand up to the president, are so important right now.
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who → know → president
Benson is the Democratic nominee for governor, and is facing Republican Rep. John James in November.
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Benson → face → November
in which she barred the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new requirements for mail-in ballots that many critics feared would prevent voters from participating, especially those in marginalized groups
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critics → bar → groups
Stemming from a series of executive orders that President Trump issued in March, the requirements would have required the Postal Service to adhere to strict federal guidelines governing the design, transmission and tracking of ballots submitted by mail.
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requirements → stem → mail
The Trump administration on Sunday
after a federal judge extended an order preventing the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing his order, the third time the administration has asked the high court to intervene.
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administration → extend → court
The the plan to move forward but not ruled on whether it is legal.
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it → move → ?
Although Mr. Trump has claimed that the changes would bolster election security, some state leaders and voting rights groups from around the country argued they would unconstitutionally manipulate who can and cannot be involved in the election process.
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who → claim → process
Mr. Trump has tried in the past to undermine confidence in Michigan's elections and, specifically, its mail-in voting procedures.
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Trump → try → elections
While his accusations have largely been unproven, Michigan lawmakers did find that a handful of non-citizens voted in the last general election in 2024.
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handful → find → 2024
Of 22 cases under review, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged six people with election law violations.
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Nessel → charge → violations
Benson said her office has taken steps to ensure Michigan's voter rolls are accurate and said cases of non-citizens voting are rare in the state.
"I'm really proud that our elections have been ranked among the most secure and accessible in the nation," Benson said.
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Benson → say → nation
"The fact that we have identified a handful of individuals who are ineligible to vote and we were able to hold them accountable, that shows that the system is working," she continued.
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she → identify → individuals
"And I'm proud of the work that our 1,500 local officials do every day to continue to ensure that every eligible vote and only eligible votes are counted in every election."
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vote → do → election
