LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is up in arms, this time pushing back against President Trump’s latest move: an executive order to preserve and protect election integrity in American elections.

The order includes a wide range of measures, such as requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, setting a deadline for mail-in ballots to be received by election day to be counted, improving voter registration list maintenance, standardizing voting equipment, and banning foreign contributions to federal, state, and local elections.

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The order aligns with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE), a top priority for U.S. House Republicans.

Benson’s opposition.

The provisions listed in President Trump’s executive order are things that Benson doesn’t appear to agree with. Never one to miss an opportunity to fire off a digital salvo, she took to X to promise, “If the election denier-in chief tries to interfere with any citizen’s right to vote, with this or any other action, we’ll see him in court.”

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The Democratic SOS is running for governor in 2026 and has championed many measures opposing election integrity since getting elected as Michigan’s Secretary of State in 2018. Along the way, she’s been sued numerous times for things like mailing absentee ballot applications to every voter without legislative approval, refusing to clean up outdated or inaccurate voter rolls, and unilaterally changing rules for poll challengers. Critics say her actions undermine transparency and public trust in Michigan elections, while her supporters claim she’s making voting more accessible.

More recently, as we reported, a group of Michigan Republican lawmakers has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to declare several voter-approved election laws in the state unconstitutional, arguing that Governor Gretchen Whitmer and SOS Benson violated the U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause by enforcing these laws without legislative approval.

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The contested amendments, including Proposals 2 and 3 from 2018 and Proposal 2 from 2022, introduced changes such as same-day voter registration, extended early voting, and the establishment of a citizens’ commission for redistricting. Republican legislators contend that these ballot initiatives improperly bypassed the state legislature’s authority to regulate federal elections. After lower courts dismissed their case due to lack of standing, they are now seeking a hearing from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Do as I say, not as I do.

Ironically, Michigan Democrats had no interest in using the legislative process to change election laws – yet now they’re criticizing President Trump for not doing the same. Michigan Deputy Secretary of State, Aghogho Edevbie said about the president’s order, “Trump is attempting to implement the SAVE Act, via executive fiat, rather than through the legislative process. This is a modern day poll tax as this would impose a cost to vote, because the required documents are usually not free.”

And Common Cause Michigan, a non-profit group that educates and advocates for elected and government officials to be accountable to the voters, is also condemning the order. Michigan Executive Director Quentin Turner said in a statement, “A president does not set election law for Michigan and never will. Trump’s executive action is just another transparent attempt to enact baseless voter suppression here in Michigan. Whether it is the block the ballot resolution Michigan Republicans are advancing or this executive order, voter suppression is unwelcome in Michigan, and we will fight it tooth and nail.”

A fight over Voter ID and other initiatives.

Trump argues in the executive order that it is necessary to secure election integrity because the country has failed to “enforce basic and necessary election protections.” After signing the executive order, Trump said, “This will go a long way toward ending it (fraud). There are other steps that we will be taking in the coming weeks.” He went on to call the country “sick” because of the fake elections and said “we are going to straighten it out one way or another.”

However, Benson, Michigan’s top election official, argues this kind of move will discourage eligible voters. The Secretary might argue she’s protecting voter access, but critics counter that requiring voters to prove their citizenship isn’t about suppression – it’s basic election housekeeping. Yet Benson continues to frame the issue as a crisis to be fought against.