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(WWJ) As Joe Biden pulls ahead strongly in the race for president, the Michigan Republican Party says video showing an unlocked ballot box in Lansing demonstrates that voting fraud is widespread.
They claim the above video is evidence showing "gross negligence in the City of Lansing and its handling of ballots."
They go even further, claiming that this specific ballot box affirms Trump's long-held claims the system is rigged and voting is rife with fraud. He made the same claim throughout the election cycle in 2016, and dropped it when he beat Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, but losing the popular vote. Now, it's back and he regularly claims the voting system is rigged.
In the Lansing video taken two weeks ago, an individual walks up to an unlocked ballot drop box outside the Foster Community Center in Lansing and opens it, with an envelope "inside for the taking," the group says, adding, "Shockingly, yesterday the same ballot drop box was filmed being opened by an election worker, who then struggled to close and secure it."
There is no evidence that anything was taken from the ballot box or anyone except the guy filming it was aware it was unlocked -- or even how long it was unlocked -- though Michigan Republican Party chairman Laura Cox says it's evidence "our election system has potentially been compromised."
“I am outraged at the complete negligence shown by the Lansing City Clerk’s office and Jocelyn Benson," Cox said. “I am calling on Secretary Benson to launch a full investigation into this incident, to determine if any ballots were stolen or tampered with, and to ensure this never happens again. I stand with President Trump in his fight for the free, fair election Michiganders, and all Americans, deserve.”
Michigan Department of State spokesperson Jake Rollow issued the following statement Wednesday, regarding ballot box security:
"Ballot drop boxes have been securely locked since ballots were available. The Michigan Republican Party’s press release states that their video was shot two weeks ago (September 23), before absentee ballots were even mailed to voters, and the envelope in the video is clearly not a ballot envelope. The claim there were 'ballots inside' is easily disproven by their own video. By sharing blatantly false statements in the press release, they are irresponsibly spreading misinformation likely intended to suppress voting among Michigan citizens. We have referred this matter to the Attorney General for investigation as election misinformation."
This comes amid what's expected to be record absentee voting and an effort to put out as many drop boxes as possible for pandemic convenience.
Benson’s office said Tuesday at least 2.39 million voters requested absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 General Election and WILX reported Lansing is sending more than 27,000 ballots to voters. The city is making it easier for ballots to be dropped off by installing 15 new ballot drop boxes across the city. 91% of Lansing voters will be within 1.5 miles from a drop box.
“So many more people are voting by absentee ballot. It’s really important to give them full options to return that ballot,” said Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk.
While Benson has not yet responded, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope says the video was taken before ballots were mailed out, the day new boxes were installed.
Swope added to the Lansing State Journal that the person in the video struggling to lock the box is a member of the city clerk's office who was still getting used to them and the boxes have a spring load, so they aren't able to be left unlocked. If the door is shut, it is locked, he said.