Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says Michigan’s election system is more secure than ever and is working to ease fears about hacking of ballot boxes and foreign interference in next week’s primary election and the November general election. Benson says all votes in the state are cast on paper ballots, and no machines are connected to the internet while polls are open, though some jurisdictions connect online after the count is done and a paper record is created to send in unofficial tallies.
“Regardless of how these unofficial results are shared, there is always a paper record that is checked and verified,” said Benson. But she says there’s a much more prevalent issue they’re dealing with.
“Voters are still vulnerable to what we call the ‘hacking of their minds.’ This refers to the spreading of misinformation, rumors, and sensational stories that lead voters to exercise their right to vote incorrectly from a position of fear, or convince them that their vote will not count or will not matter,” added Benson.
She says it’s a top priority for her office to correct misinformation and to guide voters to their information or the local clerk to get the facts.
