HOUGHTON -- Relating a story about her own experience as a poll worker in Detroit during the historic November 2008 election -- trying to assist a young woman unable to vote for the first time because she was registered in a different precinct on the other side of the city, when polls were about to close -- Jocelyn Benson, author and law professor, introduced herself to Houghton County Democrats at their June 3 meeting as a 2010 candidate for Michigan Secretary of State.
Jocelyn Benson, professor of law at Wayne State University and candidate for Michigan Secretary of State, addresses Houghton County Democrats at their June meeting in the Super 8 Motel in Houghton. (Photo © 2009 Keweenaw Now.)"The laws should not be set up to block people from voting, period," Benson said. "That's what that young woman experienced."
"If we don't have access to the vote, then nothing else matters," Benson said. "If we can't choose who's making the laws, then what is democracy?"
Houghton was the last stop on Benson's statewide, 83-county, grassroots tour to announce her campaign to run for an office that, though statewide, is not included in the state primary elections (Candidates for Michigan Secretary of State are nominated at party conventions). After a long drive from below the Mackinac Bridge, Benson arrived just in time for a taste of the potluck dinner before giving an energetic talk that immediately captured the attention and admiration of Democrats attending the meeting in the Super 8 Motel.
"I'm impressed," said Anton Pintar, Houghton County Commissioner for District 3. "She has the perfect background for Secretary of State."
A Professor of Law at Wayne State University, Benson became a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University and received her law degree from Harvard University, where she became the Voting Rights Policy Coordinator of the Harvard Civil Rights Project and worked on passage of the federal Help America Vote Act.
Benson mentioned her experience working for the Southern Poverty Law Center as an investigative journalist studying hate groups. Living in Alabama, Benson said, she developed a commitment to continuing the work that had been done to defend our democracy and a commitment to do whatever she could to assure that the vote was accessible to everyone.
After that experience, Benson decided to work on legislation that would protect access to the vote.
"And then the 2000 election happened," she said.
Secretary of State decisions affect election results
Benson recalled how Florida's Secretary of State made small decisions, like removing people from the rolls and certifying an election before a full recount had happened. Benson said these were decisions that led to the election of George W. Bush in a way that many people believed was inaccurate.
"In my view it's the Secretary of State's job to make sure that that election reflects the will of the voters," Benson noted, "but in Florida we didn't see that."
In 2004 Benson worked with the Democratic National Committee to set up a national voter protection program -- putting about 17,000 people in the polls on election day to make sure the law was followed. Then Ohio happened, she said.
Ohio's Secretary of State put more electronic voting machines in rural areas than in Cleveland, where most voters vote Democratic, causing the city voters to wait in long lines. Again, she explained, small decisions by the Secretary of State affected the outcome, which many people still think may not have reflected the will of Ohio voters.
Benson contrasted these decisions with the positive innovation made by a former Michigan Secretary of State, Richard Austin -- the "motor voter" law that allows voter registration through the Michigan driver's license.
"That was his idea," she said, "and it became a national policy. So Michigan historically has been a state that's led the way. It's been a state that people have looked to for ideas."
Benson said Michigan is at a turning point where it needs to be an innovator again.
"And so I'm running for Secretary of State so we that we can make that office an innovator again," Benson said.
For her new book, Democracy and the Secretary: the Crucial Role of State Secretaries of State in Promoting Democracy, Benson said she interviewed innovative, inspiring secretaries of state -- both Democrats and Republicans -- around the country, learning much about how they used their office to improve elections. Benson began writing the book, she said, because she wanted to show how important the office of Secretary of State is for democracy.
Benson mentioned how Ohio's Secretary of State spoke out in September 2008 against false rumors that people facing foreclosure would be blocked from voting (which would be illegal), while Michigan's Secretary of State failed to do the same to cancel similar rumors in Michigan. Benson noted this incident was a turning point in her decision to run for the office.
"Voters need to know that their Secretary of State is a friend, is an ally, is on their side and is fighting for them," Benson said. "I'm running because I want to make sure that that office is accessible to everyone across the state, is responsive to everyone across the state and is accountable to every single voter and citizen in the state."
Local Dems "very impressed" by Benson
Benson answered several questions from the audience on such topics as registration laws, potential registration on election day, student voting, electronic voting and poll-worker training.
Jocelyn Benson chats with members of the audience after her presentation at the Houghton County Democrats' June meeting. Pictured with her are, from left, Brian Hoduski, Houghton County Democrats co-chair; Rick Kasprzak, newly appointed office manager for the Houghton County Democrats; and Joanne Kyle, seasonal visitor, visiting her sister, Janet Gregorich, in Painesdale. (Photo © 2009 Keweenaw Now.)Brian Hoduski, Houghton County Democrats co-chair, mentioned the lack of poll-worker training that led to local voters being turned away during the last election for not having an I.D. (Some poll workers were unaware that the I.D. was not a requirement).
Rick Kasprzak of Calumet confirmed that a sign about an I.D. requirement in Calumet on the last election day led to voters being turned away. He asked what could be done in such an instance on election day.
Benson said the Secretary of State's office would have a hotline people could call and comment cards in every precinct to report violations of the law. She would also insist on a uniform standard of training to inform all poll workers of the law.
Several people attending the meeting echoed Anton Pintar's positive reaction to Benson's talk.
"I was very impressed," said Ann Pace of Hancock. "When she was asked a question she gave very detailed, direct and thoughtful answers."
Janet Gregorich of Painesdale described Benson as "extremely enthusiastic" and having "great ideas."
Gregorich's sister, Joanne Kyle, a seasonal visitor to the area, mentioned Benson's emphasis on the importance of the office of Secretary of State.
"I think it's as important as every other elected official in every state, especially because of the voting issues we've had," Kyle said. "We lost Ohio and Florida because of the Secretary of State's incompetence."
Benson's talk was "excellent," according to Barbara Manninen of Hancock.
"She made that office come alive," Manninen said. "It was like a tree full of ripe fruit. She has such a commitment."
Huduski said he was excited to hear Benson was coming to Houghton because he had seen her on the T.V. program, "Off the Record" and was impressed.
"It's important that we send someone to the State Democratic Convention to nominate her," he added.
Hoduski pointed out that Secretary of State is one of only four statewide offices. Of the other three -- Attorney General, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, only the latter two are listed on the primary ballot. Both Secretary of State and Attorney General are nominated in state party conventions.
For more information about Jocelyn Benson and her campaign, visit her Web site.
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