LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has long championed transparency, although critics say that her promises have not matched her rhetoric. This includes a recent expenditure of about $9 million to revamp the state’s transparency portal, which we reported that critics say is worse than the one it replaced.
Transparency talk runs headfirst into Benson’s transparency failures.
Her critics also say that her FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) compliance has been dismal – and in contradiction to past promises. When unveiling a new online transparency tool that she said would make Michigan Department of State (MDOS) records more accessible to the public in 2023, Benson said in a statement, “Transparency in government is one of my top priorities as Secretary of State…The Freedom of Information Act is one of the most important tools citizens can use to hold their government accountable. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to request and receive records and will make our records more widely available to the people of Michigan.”
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However, when the Michigan House Oversight Committee sought basic election training materials, they were met with delays and a hefty $9,000 price tag for documents that reportedly took only four hours to compile once pressure mounted.
The situation escalated when Rep. Rachelle Smit, Chair of the House Election Integrity Committee, voted to issue a subpoena on Tuesday, April 15th after Benson’s office missed an April 14th deadline to provide the requested materials. Smit criticized Benson’s track record, noting that courts have previously struck down her guidance to clerks for violating state law.
Election integrity in question after Benson admits to non-citizen votes.
Compounding concerns, Benson’s office recently acknowledged that 15 non-citizens voted in Michigan’s 2024 election, a revelation that counters her earlier assurances to Congress that there was no evidence of non-citizen voting.
Benson’s team stonewalls FOIA request.
This admission has prompted further scrutiny from lawmakers who are questioning the integrity of the state’s election processes. It’s also prompted the The Federalist, a conservative-learning media outlet, to FOIA records on the locations of where those non-citizens voted – but they were met with pushback.
The Federalist further reported that Angela Benander, chief communications officer for the secretary of state, told them because the situation “is an active law enforcement investigation,” they could not share “any specific details about the people or jurisdictions involved.”
As Benson campaigns for governor in 2026, her commitment to transparency is under the microscope. While she promotes openness, her actions – ranging from delayed FOIA responses to resistance against legislative oversight – paint a picture of an official whose practices may not align with her proclamations.
