MI SOS
| Submitted | Oct. 4, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Eric Scharfenberger
Michigan Secretary of State (Chief Elections Officer)
Richard H. Austin Building
430 West Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48918
Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to request specific information and records related to your compliance with Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act and its relevant provisions that require inactive voters who have not voted for two (2) federal election cycles to be removed from Michigan’s voter rolls.
As such, I specifically request the following:
1. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of confirmation notices sent to Michigan voters from November 7, 2018, through November 3, 2020;
2. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of responses to the aforesaid notices you or the State of Michigan received confirming the recipient is an eligible voter;
3. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice;
4. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice but voted on November 3, 2020;
5. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice and did not vote on November 3, 2020, but did vote on November 8, 2022;
6. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, and did not vote on November 8, 2022;
7. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls at any time from November 9, 2022, through present;
8. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have not been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls as of present.
I would appreciate it if this information could be provided in a digital format, if available. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
From: Michigan Secretary of State
Dear Eric,
The Department cannot process your request in its current form. Section 3(1) of the FOIA, MCL 15.233(1), requires a request to describe a public record sufficiently to enable the Department to find the record and provides that:
A request from a person, other than an individual who qualifies as indigent under section 4(2)(a), must include the requesting person's complete name, address, and contact information, and, if the request is made by a person other than an individual, the complete name, address, and contact information of the person's agent who is an individual. An address must be written in compliance with United States Postal Service addressing standards. Contact information must include a valid telephone number or electronic mail address.
Because your email does not provide your complete address, the Department cannot process it under FOIA.
Should you wish to resubmit your request, please be sure to provide your complete mailing address and provide your last name along with a phone number.
The Department is unable to process this request.
Section 3(1) of the FOIA, MCL 15.233(1), requires a request to describe a public record sufficiently to enable the Department to find the record.
In addition, the Department is not required to make a compilation of information or perform research. There are multiple understandings of what is being requested and the phrase "confirmation notices" that are reasonably known or unknown to the Department. This uncertainty prevents it from being able to conduct a search. The unreasonableness of this request is furthered by the fact that your request asks to create a record or provide research. You are welcome to refine your request to enable the Department to search for records by providing names of individuals to search, search terms, or by clarifying this request.
Please consider using the online MDOS FOIA portal for future requests: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/transparency
Benefits include password security, ability to pay with a credit card, documents available online (no flashdrive)
Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Hines
Sherri Hines
FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of State
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Bureau of Elections
PO Box 20126
Lansing, MI 48901
BOERegulatory@michigan.gov<mailto:BOERegulatory@michigan.gov>
From: Eric Scharfenberger
Michigan Secretary of State (Chief Elections Officer)
Richard H. Austin Building
430 West Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48918
Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to request specific information and records related to your compliance with Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act and its relevant provisions that require inactive voters who have not voted for two (2) federal election cycles to be removed from Michigan’s voter rolls.
As such, I specifically request the following:
The "Confirmation Notices" requested below, are the notices sent to voters suspected of having become inelligble to vote, and this notice is sent to them with a return card so they can confirm or deny they are still residing at the address where they previously were registered to vote, therby allowing Georgia to keep the voter on the active Voter Roll.
1. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of confirmation notices sent to Michigan voters from November 7, 2018, through November 3, 2020;
2. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of responses to the aforesaid notices you or the State of Michigan received confirming the recipient is an eligible voter;
3. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice;
4. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice but voted on November 3, 2020;
5. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice and did not vote on November 3, 2020, but did vote on November 8, 2022;
6. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, and did not vote on November 8, 2022;
7. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls at any time from November 9, 2022, through present;
8. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have not been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls as of present.
I would appreciate it if this information could be provided in a digital format, if available. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
The information requested is reported to the EAC (Election Administration Commission) by Georgia's Chief Elections Officer, The Secretary of State. Their office would be the custodian of these records.
Sincerely,
Eric Scharfenberger
eric@citizenag.org
5601 Palmer way Suite D
Carlsbad CA
442.427.8136
From: Michigan Secretary of State
Dear Eric,
I am in receipt of your request.
There are a few inconsistencies in your request where you state Georgia and Michigan. Please correct and return to me – this will not stop me from processing the request with a state date of 10/22/2024.
Also, please note that the full mailing address is not listed, you zip code is missing. Please supply your zip code by sending a reply to this email. This will not stop me from processing the request.
Thank you in advance,
Respectfully Submitted,
Sherri Hines
Sherri Hines
FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of State
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Bureau of Elections
PO Box 20126
Lansing, MI 48901
BOERegulatory@michigan.gov<mailto:BOERegulatory@michigan.gov>
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From: Eric Scharfenberger
Michigan Secretary of State (Chief Elections Officer)
Richard H. Austin Building
430 West Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48918
Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to request specific information and records related to your compliance with Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act and its relevant provisions that require inactive voters who have not voted for two (2) federal election cycles to be removed from Michigan’s voter rolls.
As such, I specifically request the following:
The "Confirmation Notices" requested below, are the notices sent to voters suspected of having become inelligble to vote, and this notice is sent to them with a return card so they can confirm or deny they are still residing at the address where they previously were registered to vote, therby allowing Michigan to keep the voter on the active Voter Roll.
1. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of confirmation notices sent to Michigan voters from November 7, 2018, through November 3, 2020;
2. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of responses to the aforesaid notices you or the State of Michigan received confirming the recipient is an eligible voter;
3. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice;
4. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice but voted on November 3, 2020;
5. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice and did not vote on November 3, 2020, but did vote on November 8, 2022;
6. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, and did not vote on November 8, 2022;
7. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls at any time from November 9, 2022, through present;
8. Records and/or data that reflect the total number of voters who were sent confirmation notices between November 7, 2018, and November 3, 2020, who did not respond to the notice, did not vote on November 3, 2020, did not vote on November 8, 2022, and have not been removed from Michigan’s voter rolls as of present.
I would appreciate it if this information could be provided in a digital format, if available. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
The information requested is reported to the EAC (Election Administration Commission) by Michigan's Chief Elections Officer, The Secretary of State. Their office would be the custodian of these records.
Sincerely,
Eric Scharfenberger
eric@citizenag.org
5601 Palmer way Suite D
Carlsbad CA 92010
442.427.8136
From: Michigan Secretary of State
Dear Eric Scharfenberger,
The response to your recent request is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Hines
Sherri Hines
FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of State
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Bureau of Elections
PO Box 20126
Lansing, MI 48901
BOERegulatory@michigan.gov<mailto:BOERegulatory@michigan.gov>
From: Michigan Secretary of State
Dear Eric Scharfenberger,
The response to your recent request is attached.
Please consider using the online MDOS FOIA portal for future requests: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/transparency
Benefits include password security, ability to pay with a credit card, documents available online (no flashdrive)
Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Hines
Sherri Hines
FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of State
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Bureau of Elections
PO Box 20126
Lansing, MI 48901
BOERegulatory@michigan.gov<mailto:BOERegulatory@michigan.gov>
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