Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was part of a panel of election experts who testified today before a congressional subcommittee.
They offered ideas on how to make voting easier this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest.
Benson appeared before the subcommittee with a number – 40 million dollars. She said that’s how much Michigan needs from Congress to help with new election expenses created by COVID-19. That includes paying for more mail-in ballots and making sure election sites are healthy and safe.
Benson said there is a particular urgency to make voting easier in protest-riven cities including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, and Detroit…
“… where voters’ confidence and trust in their government is an additional challenge to overcome.”
The Democratic Secretary of State got pushback from Republicans who said Michigan should carry the cost if it wants to promote options such as vote-by-mail or universal availability of absentee ballots.
