Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced new procedures outlining how certain election responsibilities will be handled while she is also a candidate for governor in 2026.
The policy is designed to separate parts of election administration connected to the governor’s race from the Secretary of State’s direct oversight during the election cycle.
Under the plan, certain responsibilities related to the gubernatorial election, including petition reviews, recounts, post-election audits, campaign finance complaints, and supervision connected to that race, would be delegated to Michigan’s director of elections.
The policy is intended to address potential conflicts of interest and maintain public confidence in election administration. These kinds of separation procedures are sometimes referred to as a “firewall” because they are intended to create distance between election administration and a candidate’s campaign.
Why This Is Important
Election administration depends on transparency, clear procedures, and public trust.
Michigan’s election system is administered locally through county, city, and township clerks, with oversight responsibilities shared across multiple offices and bipartisan boards.
At a time when voting access, mail-in voting, voter data, and election workers are increasingly under political pressure, public clarity around how elections are administered matters.
What VAAC Wants Our Community to Know
This policy does not change voter eligibility or how eligible Michigan voters cast their ballots.
It does outline how certain election administration responsibilities connected to the gubernatorial race would be handled during the 2026 election cycle.
VAAC will continue sharing accurate information about voting access, election administration, and policies that affect public participation in elections.
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