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

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.

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.