SE Grand Rapids News

For months, a request has been made for basic election training materials from the office of Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson. These materials are standard for clerks in the state and are not considered confidential. The request seeks to provide clarity on the election process and laws.

The Secretary of State's office, however, has been accused of evading the request, providing the materials only when faced with the threat of a subpoena. The training packets and documents in question are typically distributed to newly elected clerks to help them understand election laws.

Abraham Aiyash, the chair of the House Committee on Elections Integrity and a former township clerk, has expressed that acquiring these materials should not have been so difficult. Aiyash noted that these materials should already be available on the public website of the Secretary of State.

Aiyash made the initial request shortly after the last election. Initially, it was declined with the suggestion that some items might be made available later. However, the office then required a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Despite being a state representative, Aiyash submitted the FOIA request, which was again rejected on the grounds that it was unclear.

Subsequently, the office of Benson stated that fulfilling the request would require 140 hours and a cost of nearly $9,000. This was deemed unreasonable by Aiyash, who noted that much of the information was provided promptly when a potential subpoena was on the table.

Despite the provision of some materials, the office has not provided the password to the online training platform used for clerks. Aiyash emphasized the importance of transparency and maintaining public trust in elections, urging for all relevant documentation to be accessible.

He concluded that Secretary Benson needs to respect the legislative oversight function, an essential aspect of Michigan's government, to restore confidence in the electoral process.