(WXYZ) — President Trump is threatening to withhold funding for the State of Michigan after the recent announcement of mailing applications to vote by mail to all registered voters.
All Michigan voters will get an application to vote by mail for August & November elections
On Tuesday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that all registered voters would receive absentee ballot applications in both the August Primary Election and November General Election.
Trump erroneously tweeted Wednesday morning that Michigan is sending absentee ballots to all registered voters.
He said Benson's decision was "done illegally and without authorization." He went on to say that he will ask to hold up funding to Michigan "if they want to go down this voter fraud path."
Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Eection. 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!...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
Trump then deleted that tweet and sent out a new tweet saying it was ballot applications.
Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. 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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
Benson corrected the president's original tweet and pointed out that applications were sent out in Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska and West Virginia.
Hi! 👋🏼 I also have a name, it’s Jocelyn Benson. And we sent applications, not ballots. Just like my GOP colleagues in Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska and West Virginia. https://t.co/kBsu4nHvOy
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) May 20, 2020
There are 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan, and about 1.3 are on the permanent absent voter list. That means the local election clerk mails them applications ahead of every election.
Benson said the Michigan Bureau of Elections has ensured all remaining registered voters receive an application.
Those getting the application in the mail will also get a cover letter with instructions. Once a voter signs their application, they can mail it or email a photo of it to their local clerk, whose contact information will be on the application.
The application is also available for download at Michigan.gov/vote, and at that website, people can also register to join the permanent absent voter list so they always have an option to vote by mail.
