To start, I want to clarify that I do not support election conspiracy theories, nor do I believe that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

I think Trump’s claims about widespread voter fraud have negatively impacted trust in the electoral process, particularly among his supporters.

On the flip side, Democrats and traditional news outlets have gone to extremes by portraying individuals who advocate for enhancing election security as problematic.

It is essential for all political parties to work together to guarantee that elections are exclusively for U.S. citizens. This idea should not be a point of contention, right? However, by avoiding stricter voter identification laws, Democrats and their supporters are undermining their own efforts.

For example, recently at a University of Michigan event, a student from China – who is not a citizen – managed to register and vote in an election where they shouldn’t have participated.

Election officials have stated that there is no means to cancel the student’s ballot since it has already been counted.

As a resident of Michigan and a citizen of the United States, I find this to be shocking.

In Michigan, every vote is going to matter this election

To start, here’s a brief overview of the situation.

A 19-year-old student from China registered to vote using his university identification along with other proof of residence in Ann Arbor, where his university is situated. He also completed a form declaring that he was a U.S. citizen. His vote was subsequently submitted into a tabulator.

The only reason authorities became aware of this incident is that the student reportedly tried to retrieve his ballot later on. As a result, he now faces two charges for voting illegally as a noncitizen in the United States.

This situation, although it may be a one-time occurrence, underscores the reality that fraudulent activities can take place. If this student managed to commit fraud successfully and have their vote counted, it raises questions about how many others might be doing the same.

Michigan is a crucial battleground in the presidential election where every single vote holds significant weight. In the 2016 election, Trump secured victory in Michigan by a margin of less than 11,000 votes.

It is anticipated that this will be a closely contested event once again.

The University of Michigan reported that in the fall term of 2023, there were 12,720 international students, scholars, faculty members, and staff at the institution.

This substantial figure raises important questions regarding who is eligible to register for voting.

Requiring Voters to Verify Their Citizenship is Reasonable

“Friends, we are currently facing a critical situation regarding the future of our democracy,” Benson shared on social media on Thursday. “Voting will conclude in less than a week. Anticipate that those with ulterior motives will exploit minor issues and use them to promote unfounded conspiracy theories to advance their own interests. Do not fall for their tactics aimed at creating disorder, confusion, and fear.”

But is this really just a minor issue?

“Our laws are designed to ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to cast their vote,” said Angela Benander, spokesperson for Benson.

Numerous investigations have been conducted over the years regarding the involvement of noncitizens in elections, and consistently, they have found that such instances are quite rare and isolated.

Benson, who has supported Vice President Kamala Harris in her campaigns, sought to persuade a congressional committee last September that Michigan was prepared for the upcoming election. She attributed threats directed at election workers to “the dissemination of misinformation concerning the security and integrity of our elections.”

She reiterated this point during an interview with me earlier this year.

Incidents involving a Chinese student in Michigan raise questions about the security of our electoral process.

Michigan is not the only state facing issues with its voting system. In Pennsylvania, numerous voter registration applications have been suspected of fraud, while Virginia had to turn to the U.S. Supreme Court to help cleanse its voter rolls of potential noncitizens.

Throughout this year, congressional Republicans have made multiple attempts to enact the SAVE Act, which stipulates that individuals must provide official documentation of their citizenship in order to register for federal elections. However, Democrats have consistently obstructed this proposal.

Democrats argue that it is already against the law…for noncitizens participating in federal elections. This occurs even though it is against the law.

If Democrats, like Benson, want to restore public confidence in our electoral process, they should focus more on protecting this vital right rather than reprimanding individuals.