The U.S. Senate Rules Committee heard testimony this week from election officials regarding election security and the threat posed by foreign interests and artificial intelligence.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson told the committee that misinformation is an existential threat to Democracy:
“We must invest in efforts to educate our citizens boost trusted messengers from all sectors and all parties and collaborate more than we ever have before to ensure we are marching forward arms locked to protect every citizens voice in this election, from efforts to fool them about their voice and about their votes.”
In 2020, two Republican operatives were charged in Michigan and other states with making thousands of robocalls that sought to suppress turnout of Black voters.
Benson also advocated for federal legislation to protect poll workers – similar to bills passed by the Michigan legislature last year.
