No, Michigan’s Qualified Voter File Doesn’t Show Election Fraud

Recent arguments stemming from social media interpretations of contention around Michigan’s voter file raised a spark among conservative activists. The post, which has been viewed by 5 million as of last count, asserts the presence of voter fraud by showing what it alleges as multiple voting instances linked to the same individual.

The Voter File Controversy

Matthew DePerno, a well-known conservative activist, attorney, and former Attorney General candidate, broadcasted the controversal claim. He showed an image on social media that he claimed was data obtained through a FOIA request; data that he asserts came from the voter file. Depicting various addresses of a Detroit man in his late 40s, DePerno alleged this as proof of election fraud, suggesting that this man’s vote was being counted multiple times in the election.

Misinterpretation or Mismanagement?

The Secretary of State immediately responded to the allegations, reinforcing that the Qualified Voter File (QVF) allows only one ballot acceptance per voter for each election; a crucial but sometimes overlooked fact, and assuring the public that any errors have been addressed and rectified. The file in question, Michigan’s QVF, is a voter registration database that contains comprehensive data for each voter in the state – including name, address, driver’s license number, precinct number, signature, and voting history.

The misunderstanding seems to have resulted from a formatting error, which meant a line was generated in the report for every address formerly tied to the voter in question. As such, it gave the appearance of multiple votes originating from the same unique Voter ID, when in fact, each voter only had one vote recorded in the election. Once the error was identified, it was immediately corrected.

The Sounds of Silence and Suspicion

DePerno, the Michigan GOP nominee for attorney general in 2022 and an endorsee of former president Donald Trump, accrued a considerable following after a failed lawsuit claiming vote-manipulation in Antrim County’s 2020 results. Despite losing to incumbent Democrat, Attorney General Dana Nessel, by about 8 percentage points, his voice and perspective remain influential among Michigan’s conservative base.

The Statement from the Secretary of State’s Office

On social media, the Secretary of State’s office clarified DePerno’s claim that individual voters were casting multiple ballots. They explained that, upon investigation, the posts were misleading and played off an initially misinterpreted formatting error.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson cautioned against attempts to spread chaos, confusion, and fear, asserting that people should “Expect bad actors to take minor issues and use them to fuel baseless conspiracy theories in order to further their own agenda.”

The Aftermath

Allegations and calls for explanations like DePerno’s are increasingly common. As the elections approach, public attention continues to focus on the integrity and security of voter files and electoral systems. While some see these as justified calls for transparency, others view them as attempts to sow doubt in the outcome of the vote and to disrupt public confidence in the democratic process.

Regardless of the intention, it is clear that the strict vigilance of systems and the tireless work of election officials remain essential to ensuring the credibility and fairness of every vote in every election.