'False': MI SOS Responds After Trump Tweet On Absentee Ballots

MICHIGAN — In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump addressed a recent move made by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to send applications for absentee ballots to all Michiganders who are registered to vote, threatening to cut federal funding for the state during the coronavirus pandemic. Shortly after, Benson's office responded.

The president tweeted that Michigan was sending absentee ballots to all registered voters. However, the state is not; it is sending applications for absentee ballots in case voters want to vote absentee in the wake of the pandemic.

"Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election," the President tweeted. "This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!.."

Just over an hour later, Benson's office responded in a news release offering a statement calling Trump's statement "false."

"The Bureau of Elections is mailing absent voter applications, not ballots," the statement said. "Applications are mailed nearly every election cycle by both major parties and countless advocacy and nonpartisan organizations. Just like them, we have full authority to mail applications to ensure voters know they have the right to vote safely by mail."

Benson also responded via Twitter.

On Tuesday, Benson's office made the announcement that applications for absentee ballots would be mailed to all Michigan residents who are registered to vote.

The move was made with the intention of providing voters with a safe way to cast their vote in the upcoming elections while concerns surrounding the new coronavirus continue.

"By mailing applications, we have ensured that no Michigander has to choose between their health and their right to vote," Benson said in a news release accompanying the announcement. "Voting by mail is easy, convenient, safe, and secure, and every voter in Michigan has the right to do it."

Of the 7.7 million registered voters in the state, about 1.3 million are on the permanent absent voter list, and their local election clerk mails them applications ahead of every election, Benson's office said. Some jurisdictions are mailing applications to all local registered voters. The Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections has ensured all remaining registered voters receive an application.

After threatening Michigan's coronavirus relief funding, Trump made similar threats towards Nevada, which sent ballots to voters for its June 9 state primary due to the coronavirus, the Associated Press reported.