Moolenaar, Michigan GOP Representatives Call on SoS Benson to Explain Failures to Stop Illegal Voting

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar, along with his Republican colleagues in the Michigan Congressional delegation, called on Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to answer questions after her office reported at least an additional 15 noncitizens were found to illegally cast a ballot in the 2024 election.

Benson's announcement comes after a Chinese national attending the University of Michigan, voted illegally as well. In a Congressional hearing last September, Benson claimed, "there is no evidence that non-citizens are voting." The Secretary is publicly opposed to bipartisan legislation, the SAVE Act, which would require individuals to provide documentation proving they are a citizen, such as a REAL ID, to register to vote.

The lawmakers wrote:

"Your failure to secure Michigan’s elections continues to erode the public’s trust. Your department not only failed to prevent these noncitizens from voting, but your report casts further doubt about how many noncitizens actually voted on Election Day. House Republicans have repeatedly raised these concerns. Last year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8281 – SAVE Act with a bipartisan 221-198 vote and is poised to pass it again this Congress. The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide proof of citizenship, including REAL ID, when registering to vote in federal elections.

We have already raised these concerns directly with you. In November, we wrote to you about Haoxiang Gao’s vote, and you dismissed our concerns. Ironically, last year at a Committee on House Administration hearing, you stated “[t]here is no evidence that noncitizens are voting.” Further, you have continually promoted falsehoods about the SAVE Act. It is disheartening that our State’s chief election officer does not support basic election integrity measures."
 

The letter concludes with the the members of Congress asking Benson questions about the illegal votes, how they were discovered, and Benson's misrepresentation of the SAVE Act. The lawmakers' letter to Benson can be found in full here.

Moolenaar was joined in his letter to Benson by Republican members of the Michigan Congressional delegation including, Jack Bergman (MI-1), Bill Huizenga (MI-4), Tim Walberg (MI-5), Tom Barrett (MI-7), Lisa McClain (MI-9), and John James (MI-10).