Michigan’s voter rolls report 8.4 million registered voters, even though the state’s population of eligible voters is well below that number. This discrepancy has raised concerns about the accuracy of the state’s voter registration system, particularly in the context of a swing state. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has previously filed a lawsuit against Michigan over these inflated voter rolls, arguing that such inaccuracies could lead to fraud.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) has dismissed these concerns, claiming without evidence that Republicans are preparing to challenge election results if they are unfavorable. Benson’s office has acknowledged that over 600,000 inactive voters remain on the rolls, but these names will not be removed until 2027.
Wayne County, home to Detroit, is one of the worst offenders, with 1.4 million registered voters compared to 1.3 million eligible residents. Another county, Genessee, has 351,000 registered voters but less than 300,000 eligible voters. These discrepancies have raised questions about how the state is managing its voter lists.
The RNC’s lawsuit states that these inflated voter rolls undermine the integrity of elections, making it easier for ineligible voters to cast ballots. The lawsuit also highlights how these inaccurate lists affect the RNC’s efforts to target voters, potentially wasting valuable resources.
Michigan remains a key battleground state, and issues like this are likely to play a significant role in upcoming election cycles. Republicans are pushing for tighter voter roll maintenance to ensure election integrity, while Democrats like Benson dismiss the concerns as baseless.
