The next is the transcript of an interview with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson that aired Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MAJOR GARRETT: Welcome again. We flip now to Michigan's Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Madam Secretary, welcome to Face The Nation and good morning. I do know you speak to numerous secretaries of state of each events in addition to election officers nationwide, what are they most nervous about, because the midterms strategy?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: Violence and disruption on election day, before everything, and within the days surrounding the election. And secondly, there is a concern concerning the ongoing unfold of misinformation which in fact, fuels the potential for added threats, harassment and, and even violence on election day
MAJOR GARRETT: A pure query that viewers might need listening to you simply now's, properly, is there a plan to take care of violence? Ought to I be afraid after I go to the polls?
BENSON: There's- and- and they need to– all voters ought to know that election officers on either side of the aisle are working night time and day to make sure we're collaborating with legislation enforcement and each different potential companion to guard the sanctity of the polling place and shield the integrity of our democracy. And it is also essential to notice that we have been doing this work now for shut to 2 years or over two years, and we have been succeeding actually, at each flip. Democracy prevailed in 2020. There have been, in Michigan and in different states, no important makes an attempt, aside from the tragedy in our Capitol on January 6, to essentially see disruption of the polling locations on election day itself. So we're, in some ways, much more ready this 12 months than ever earlier than than despite the fact that we had been in 2020 to make sure that we're eliminating, mitigating or actually defending the system in opposition to any potential disruptions. And in addition talking clearly to of us who're eager about interfering with our elections that the legislation is obvious, and we are going to search accountability and penalties for anybody who tries to intrude with a citizen's proper to vote and democracy itself.
MAJOR GARRETT: Madam Secretary, I wish to put issues in two completely different distinct buckets if I might: consternation and denialism is one, and curiosity is one other. Do you welcome out of your constituents in Michigan, and will Secretaries of State broadly welcome curiosity? Voters who perhaps do not consider the election was stolen, however have questions? Are you open to that? And that engagement?
BENSON: Yeah, that's such an essential distinction. I believe we have to take a look at issues primarily based on reality and proof. If there are proof of, or questions primarily based on proof, rooted in proof of, of any points round our elections, then sure, we welcome that as a result of the extra transparency we now have on the method, the extra daylight, the extra individuals can perceive actually how a lot work has gone into defending the safety and accessibility of elections or each voter. What's actually occurred over the previous few years is that this development of- of factless misinformation or- or- or allegations primarily based not on proof, however on aspersions, and actually geared in direction of furthering partisan agendas, and delegitimizing democracy itself. But when questions are rooted in proof, and if responses are equally rooted in proof, then we truly transfer ahead to having a wholesome, sturdy, clear democracy the place everybody can believe that their vote is counted and their voices heard
MAJOR GARRETT: This subsequent query could be a possibility for that form of readability. So a chunk of election tools from Michigan was not too long ago discovered on Ebay. It had been bought in an public sale of some variety, there is a legal investigation, what is the underlying crime? And what do you wish to say about that?
BENSON: Nicely, I am Michigan and in lots of different states, it is unlawful for anybody to have unauthorized entry to election tools. And so we now have for actually the previous a number of years been partaking and dealing with legislation enforcement to make sure the safety of the tools. We instantly decommission any tools that has been discovered to be probably compromised. And we be sure that prior to each election, there are accuracy checks for each piece of election tools, so the citizen can really feel assured that once they vote on paper ballots, that the machines are securely counting each legitimate vote. Now on this case, we had a scenario, and we're nonetheless working with legislation enforcement to research what occurred, the place not a voting tabulator, however a marking system, a tool that is used to help voters who want help and marking their poll, maybe might have been inadvertently dropped off at Goodwill, perhaps even discarded as one thing that wasn't clear what it was. We're nonetheless discovering out these details. Nevertheless it's essential to notice that that is taking place on this period of misinformation the place persons are fast to grab on the potential for machines to be by some means insecure and our work in Michigan is to- to make sure that any machine that's illegally accessed and even tempted to be illegally accessed is decommissioned and we solely have safe machines in play on election day. And once more, we check these earlier than each election.
MAJOR GARRETT: Madam Secretary, once more, conserving with the theme of transparency, as you already know, there's a lawsuit filed in Michigan, alleging that the names of deceased voters remained on these rolls longer than they need to have. A Biden appointed federal decide has allowed that lawsuit to proceed. What are you able to say about that? And do that you must do higher in Michigan than you could have on this specific entrance?
BENSON: Now we have maintained and prioritized guaranteeing the accuracy of our voting record since I took workplace, together with doing a mailing to each voter within the state- registered voter within the state in order that we will assess whether or not or not they had been nonetheless in Michigan. We have additionally partnered with nationwide collaborations with different states to make sure when voters transfer to a different state, that we get that info. As regards to voters who develop into deceased, we obtain info each week from the federal authorities, Social Safety and different sources. And we use that info to- on a weekly, common foundation, be sure that we're monitoring and rising and enhancing the accuracy of our lists. Now, that mentioned, we additionally welcome the solutions or the enter of others. And we have requested people who do current us with lists to tell us how they compile this proof in order that we will confirm whether or not or not it is truly true. The underside line is we wish to be sure that our lists are correct, however that we're additionally not eradicating voters who're legitimately capable of be registered and vote in Michigan, and that is a really technical course of. It is one which requires fixed vigilance. We have additionally arrange an internet site on our michigan.gov/vote the place residents can be taught in granular element about every thing we do frequently to make sure the accuracy of our voting lists in Michigan,
MAJOR GARRETT: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Madam Secretary, thanks for taking the questions. Good to see you. Glad Labor Day.
BENSON: Thanks. Thanks for having me.
MAJOR GARRETT: And we'll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. We invite you to please stick with us.