The Department of Justice has launched a formal inquiry into Michigan’s voter registration list maintenance practices, citing concerns over compliance with federal election laws and a high volume of duplicate registrations.
In a July 21 letter to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division requested detailed records and explanations regarding the state’s execution of voter list maintenance procedures under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The letter, signed by Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael E. Gates and Acting Voting Section Chief Maureen Riordan, requires Michigan to produce records within 14 days.
The DOJ is asking Benson to identify all election officials responsible for maintaining the voter rolls since November 2022 and to describe what steps have been taken to ensure the rolls are accurate. The letter emphasizes that states must make available all records related to how they update and verify registration lists to ensure they reflect only eligible voters.
The Department is requesting the state’s current voter registration list in full, including data fields, formatting, user manuals, and details about how information is stored and managed. It also seeks historical registration data from November 2022 through the close of registration for the 2024 general election.
The letter raises the possibility of enforcement actions under Section 11 of the NVRA if the state fails to demonstrate compliance.
Read the DOJ Letter to SOS Benson
