LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, who still has not cleaned up the state’s voter rolls and whose election security system allowed a Chinese national to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 election, is continuing to speak out against the SAVE Act.

What is the SAVE Act?

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was introduced in the U.S. House in 2024 but is gaining traction again now that there’s a GOP-controlled House and President Donald Trump is back in the White House. The legislation would require people to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

MORE NEWS: The Fight for Title IX in Michigan: ‘It’s About Girls Rights, Not Trans Rights’

It would require Americans who want to register to vote to present a REAL ID-compliant ID that indicates U.S. citizenship, a passport or another citizenship document. Some forms of ID, like a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or adoption paperwork would have to be presented alongside the citizenship documentation.

If the SAVE Act is passed and signed into law, it would outlaw mail-in voting registration which recently became legal in Michigan.

Benson’s talking points.

Michigan’s Secretary of State is pushing back against the SAVE Act, and claims it would go “after your right to vote” and is “a trick.” In a recent press conference, Benson said the SAVE Act seems reasonable on the surface, but actually serves as “a cover to gut voting protections.”

In referring to the bipartisan local election officials she works with, Benson said, “We are deeply committed to ensuring that every valid vote and only valid votes count in every election and we’ve been successful at doing that.”

“Only valid votes count?” That’s not true.

In October 2024, a Chinese nation cast a ballot in the presidential election. He was a student at the University of Michigan and was only “caught” when he turned himself in. However, his votes counted since Benson said at the time there was no way to retrieve the ballot. He is now facing charges.

Benson was forced to admit the flaws in the system at that same press conference.

MORE NEWS: Michigan’s 35th District Still Without a Senator

 

 

What’s next?

The SAVE Act previously passed the House, but will likely face difficulty in the Senate when or if it reaches President Trump’s desk.