Concerns Raised Over Juror Citizenship in Michigan

Officials in Macomb County, Michigan, have expressed serious concerns after a review of state and local databases uncovered that over 200 individuals on the potential juror list may not be U.S. citizens, with at least one of them possibly having voted.

On Monday, County Clerk Anthony Forlini issued a statement highlighting the issue, which quickly garnered attention online. He pointed out that within a four-month timeframe, 239 non-citizens possessing Michigan driver’s licenses appeared in the 16th Judicial Circuit’s pool of potential jurors. This situation is particularly alarming since Michigan automatically registers applicants for driver’s licenses to vote unless they explicitly opt out, making these non-citizens ineligible for jury duty.

Forlini mentioned that, after cross-referencing the non-citizens in the jury pool with Michigan’s Eligible Voter File, his office found that at least 14 of them had been registered to vote at some time.

“Our records indicate that some of these non-citizens may have a history of voting, with one individual indicating they voted multiple times, which could lead to serious legal consequences,” Forlini explained.

He emphasized the need for better methods to verify citizenship within the driver’s license database, noting potential language barriers that could lead to misunderstandings during the application process. “If we don’t address this, we may endanger the integrity of both jury trials and elections,” he said.

Forlini, who once served as a state representative and is now campaigning as a Republican for the secretary of state position, is not alone in his frustration.

Representative John James, also a Republican and a gubernatorial candidate whose district covers much of Macomb County, shared a video on social media criticizing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson—who is running for governor as a Democrat. James accused her of being “either corrupt or incompetent.” He remarked, “Even if you want to give her the benefit of the doubt, you must acknowledge she seems unsure of what she’s doing. Frankly, I believe she knows exactly what she’s doing.” James pointedly asked, “What will happen during the next election where she is in charge?”

Captain Michael Bouchard, who is vying for James’ congressional seat, shifted the focus of blame to Benson and the Democratic Party in Michigan but underscored that this is a matter that impacts all citizens. “Having served in the military, I deeply value the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Safeguarding these freedoms begins with ensuring the integrity of our elections. It’s time to rectify the missteps made by Michigan’s Democratic leadership. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue; our elections must be fair and secure,” Bouchard stated.

As of now, Benson’s office has not responded to requests for comments regarding this situation.