Michigan Attorney General Dana Nesselsays her office is ready to prosecute any efforts to illegally use intimidate or misinform voters for the November elections. Rick Pluta has more.
Nessel, a Democrat, has compileda list of laws that are supposed to deter election meddling. She says meddling includes threats that registering could put government benefits at risk or misleading people on where or how to vote.
“…because when you do that, you’re interfering with democracy itself. And there should be nothing more important to us as Americans than preserving our right to vote.”
Nessel says there are state and federal laws that protect against lies and voter intimidation without violating free speech rights. She says casting double ballots or registering to vote in more than one jurisdiction are also crimes. Election meddling in Michigan is a big concern largely because the margin in the presidential race was so close in 2016.
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— Rick Pluta is the Managing Editor and Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org