Michigan voters will decide in November who will serve as the state's next Secretary of State, an office responsible for overseeing elections and managing critical public services like driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. The role, which is the third-highest in state government, will also involve supervising the 2028 presidential election in Michigan.
Republican Anthony Forlini and Democrat Garlin Gilchrist are the two main candidates, both emphasizing a need for better transparency in the office and improved vehicle services. While they share these broad goals, their specific plans and approaches differ significantly. Their positions were discussed ahead of a debate in Ann Arbor on October 8.
One major issue facing the next Secretary of State is a year-long legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Michigan’s voter rolls. The department requested lists of registered voters, including personal information, from Michigan and other states. Michigan provided a redacted version, but a previous federal administration sued for access to the unredacted roll. Although a district court and an appeals court dismissed the case, it could potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Democrat Garlin Gilchrist stated he would not turn over the unredacted voter roll, emphasizing that the government must protect private data provided by citizens. Republican Anthony Forlini, currently the Macomb County Clerk, did not give a strict yes-or-no answer. He expressed that maintaining clean voter rolls is a shared objective with the federal government, regardless of who occupies the White House. Forlini said he would be willing to collaborate with the federal government to identify noncitizens on the rolls, asserting he had "nothing to hide." He also indicated confidence in his ability to bring the department to the negotiating table, suggesting past efforts failed due to a lack of effective cooperation.
Both candidates agree that the state's campaign finance platform, known as the Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN), requires a significant overhaul due to its often-glitchy performance. Forlini highlighted his work in Macomb County to modernize campaign finance reporting, noting that online filings freed staff time. He also seeks improvements in oversight and candidate disclosures, aiming to prevent errors where critical donor information is omitted.
Gilchrist, the state's lieutenant governor, plans to leverage his computer engineering background to enhance MiTN. He has introduced a plan called “Stand TALL,” which addresses transparency, accountability, limits, and looking forward in campaign finance. His first-year goals include pushing for the disclosure of "dark money" donors before elections and implementing "real-time enforcement" for campaign finance violations. He believes better visibility is crucial for addressing undisclosed money in politics.
While both candidates advocate for greater election transparency and increased collaboration between the Department of State and local clerks, their definitions of transparency diverge. Forlini has led efforts to demystify elections in Macomb County by introducing Ballot Verifier, an online tool that displays images of every ballot cast after an election. He also advocates for changes in election record retention, suggesting that more data, such as from electronic pollbooks, should be kept with its chain of custody for public scrutiny. He noted that people often question election outcomes, and transparency while maintaining confidentiality is the only way to address these concerns.
Gilchrist, conversely, believes transparency efforts should begin before an election. He proposes innovative educational methods, similar to "Schoolhouse Rock" videos, to inform voters about how Michigan elections operate. He argues that a lack of clear understanding about election processes allows misinformation and "conspiracy theorists" to spread falsehoods.
Both Forlini and Gilchrist also aim to improve services at the Secretary of State offices, which handle driver's licenses, car tags, and other vital documents. Gilchrist referred to these offices as "the front door to Michigan," emphasizing the need for respectful and efficient service that values residents' time. He supports offering walk-in visits alongside the existing appointment system, recognizing that current walk-ins do not guarantee same-day service. Additionally, he seeks to expand the presence of self-service kiosks and mobile Secretary of State units, bringing services directly to college campuses and communities where office access might be challenging.
Forlini shares similar objectives for the offices, including reviewing operational processes and cross-training staff to improve service. He also stated that phones should be answered more dependably and that walk-in access should be consistently available. He indicated this work mirrors improvements he has already implemented in his Macomb County roles.
