Secretary Benson launches new tools, updates to boost election security and share nonpartisan voter information ahead of General Election

New additions include grant funding for election security,
voter information texting tool, early voting awareness campaign,
and a relaunched Election Fact Center

DETROIT, Mich. - Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced several nonpartisan voter information tools and election security updates to ensure Michigan voters are confident and ready to cast their ballot in the upcoming General Election. Before announcing these upgrades at a press conference at the Detroit Pistons Performance Center, Secretary Benson visited with the team, coaching staff, and employees about their important role in encouraging Michiganders to vote.

Starting today, 40 days before Election Day on Nov. 5, absentee ballots are available to voters statewide. Already, more than 1.8 million voters have requested their ballot, including 1.6 million voters who have opted to join the Permanent Absentee Ballot List.

"With absentee voting beginning today, we are entering a critical phase in this fall's election season," Secretary Benson said. "I know that I, along with the 1,600 bipartisan professional clerks across our state, will continue to spend every minute that we can working to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in our state. We will do that because it's our honor, our duty, and because we know that the votes our citizens will cast in the next 40 days will define the future of our country. So today is a call to action - for every eligible Michigan citizen - to take the time to check your registration and choose the voting option that's best for you."

"We are all in on Detroit," said Arn Tellem, Detroit Pistons vice chairman. "As an organization we all feel a tremendous sense of responsibility contributing to this community and there is nothing more important than getting out to vote, and encouraging everyone to have their voice heard and participate in this election. It is an honor for us to have the Secretary of State here today to speak to our players, coaching staff, and all our employees. We are all committed to working with you to do our best. We will vote and help others get out to vote and make sure their voices are heard. There is nothing more important."

MI Vote Info Texting Tool
Secretary Benson announced a new nonpartisan voter information texting tool is now available. Voters can sign up by texting VOTE to 833-868-3009 to receive a one-time text with a link about five different topics:

1. Request an absentee ballot
2. Find your early voting site
3. Make a plan for Election Day
4. Become a poll worker
5. Link to Vote411, the League of Women Voter's nonpartisan election information guide

Absentee Ballot Tracking
Voters have already been able to visit Michigan.gov/Vote to track their ballots. Starting today, they can register to receive those notifications directly to their email inbox. Voters can see exactly where their ballot is in the process at all times and learn exactly when it has been accepted for tabulation by their clerk. There are three ways to sign up - when registering to vote, when submitting an online absentee ballot application, or by visiting Michigan.gov/Vote and clicking on the signup link.

"It's Sooo Simple" early voting campaign
The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) is now running a series of social, streaming, and static ads as a part of a new "It's Sooo Simple" early voting campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of the convenient options available to Michigan voters: vote absentee, or at an early voting site, or on Election Day. Many of the ads will feature the department's "I Voted" winning sticker, the now-famous werewolf designed by Grosse Pointe student Jane Hynous.

WATCH: It's Sooo Simple Campaign

Election Fact Center
Secretary Benson also relaunched the MDOS Election Fact Center - Michigan.gov/ElectionFacts- an official source of nonpartisan information on elections and voting in Michigan. The site includes facts about some of the most common questions or false claims about elections that the department has seen this year. To report election misinformation, email [email protected] with details, which will help MDOS keep the Election Fact Center updated and improve communication to voters.

Grant Funding
To support clerks making their final preparations ahead of Election Day, MDOS has allocated an additional $5 million in grant funding to jurisdictions statewide. The grants can be used to boost physical security and resiliency against cybersecurity threats, as well as to purchase additional voting equipment. Congress appropriated funds to states for the grants under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the state Bureau of Elections released the grant program based on recent recommendations of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), as well as security exercises conducted with local election officials.

Visit Michigan.gov/Vote for detailed information about the General Election including how to register, important deadlines, and to find your local early voting site.

# # #