Michigan Democrats have sounded the alarm on potential fraud and forgery in the Republican Senate primary, urging state election officials to investigate the matter.
With the 2024 presidential election heating up, Michigan has emerged as a crucial battleground state, and the Republican Senate candidates’ alleged misconduct could have far-reaching implications.
The Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) have submitted a formal request to the Board of State Canvassers, seeking an investigation into the nominating petitions submitted by Republican candidates Mike Rogers, Justin Amash, Sandy Pensler, and Peter Meijer.
The Democrats’ letter alleges that the Republican candidates’ petition submissions exhibit patterns of potential forgery and fraudulent signature-gathering tactics.
Republicans Face Allegations of Ballot Signature Fraud
The letter highlights several red flags, including petition sheets filled out by a single person, voters’ names appearing across multiple petitions in different handwriting, and other evidence of potential fraud.
The Democrats are demanding a thorough investigation to ensure the integrity of Michigan’s elections and prevent any potentially fraudulent candidates from making it onto the ballot.
The Republicans have dismissed the allegations as an “antidemocratic stunt” and an attempt to “subvert democracy.” However, the Democrats argue that it is the Board of State Canvassers’ duty to canvass all petitions submitted and ensure that only candidates with 15,000 valid signatures from actual Michigan voters are certified for the ballot.
If an investigation finds that any of the candidates submitted less than 15,000 valid signatures, they could be removed from the August 6 primary ballot.
This is not the first time Republican candidates have faced allegations of fraud or potential forgery in Michigan. In 2022, five Republican candidates for governor were barred from running in the election after failing to submit enough valid signatures.
The Michigan Elections Bureau identified thousands of invalid and fraudulent signatures among the candidates, leading to charges against three individuals behind the petition circulation firms. The incident highlights the importance of ensuring the integrity of Michigan’s elections and the need for thorough investigations into potential fraud and forgery.
