By David Howell | April 8, 2024
Shouldn’t registering non- citizens to vote be a crime? Michigan’s Constitution clearly states who is eligible to vote:
Every citizen of the United States who has attained the age of 21 years, who has resided in this state six months, and who meets the requirements of local residence provided by law, shall be an elector and qualified to vote in any election except as otherwise provided in this constitution. The legislature shall define residence for voting purposes. MCL - Article II § 1 - Michigan Legislature
Apparently The Voter Participation Center (https://www.voterparticipation.org/) does not understand that. Or does it? The Voter Participation Center is a “non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 2003 to help members of the New American Majority - young people, people of color, and unmarried women - register and vote."
Of particular interest is the fact that it exists to help “members” of the New American Majority – no mention of “citizens.” And yet, an individual in Lansing who holds a Green Card, a refugee from Iraq, received via U.S. mail all of the paperwork necessary to register to vote. A Green Card holder is only a permanent resident, not a citizen. Rights and Responsibilities of a Green Card Holder (Permanent Resident) | USCIS
This individual was concerned because he received a Michigan Voter Registration Application addressed to “Current Resident,” which was from The Voter Participation Center (VPC).
The non-partisan Voter Participation Center (VPC) is based in Washington, D.C. and is led by President and CEO Tom Lopach and Board Chairwoman Denise Juneau. In fiscal year 2022 VPC had 41 employees and raised $37.8 million. It spent $31.3 million on voter registration and mobilization programs using primarily mail and the internet to reach people of color, young people, and unmarried women.
Mr. Lopach is the former Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and a former Chief of Staff to Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Ms. Juneau is an attorney and LGBTQIA activist, and is a former Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, and Candidate for the US House of Representatives from Montana in 2016.
This writer examined the Michigan Voter Registration Application which his friend had received, and examined the package of information carefully. In addition to the application form, there was also a page of voter registration tips as well as a postage paid return envelope.
(a) There is a VPC tracking code on the outside of the original envelope that was addressed to "Current Resident', and this VPC tracking code is also on the Michigan Voter Registration Application and the outside of the postage paid return envelope. What are all of the VPC tracking codes for?
(b) The return address given for VPC is 315 W. Allegan Street, Suite A #12338, Lansing, MI 48901 which is the location of the Federal Building in Lansing (48933) housing the offices of the Federal US District & Appeals Courts, US Federal Attorney, and most federal departments. This writer contacted the GSA Property Manager for the building who stated that no such non-government tenant exists and that he would investigate the matter further.
(c) The notice inside from Mr. Lopach read: "There may be an April 16th Special Election in your District. April 1st is the deadline to mail your registration form in order to vote in that election." Of course, this is a reference to the two Special Elections in House Districts #13 and #25 which will determine control of the Michigan House of Representatives. This is another example of Big Money from outside the state getting involved in local elections in order to influence the outcome.
(d) On the first page of instructions for the Michigan Voter Registration Application, the potential voter’s address and zip code already have been completed: by VPC itself.
It also states: If you have a Michigan driver's license or state ID, you can register to vote online." However, VPC fails to recommend using the most secure method of voter registration - going to the nearest Secretary of State branch office and using a birth certificate, current Michigan driver's license, Social Security card, and a current utility bill to verify the voter's name, photo ID, legal residence, citizenship, Social Security number, and Michigan driver's license number, i.e. all with original source documentation.
(e) On the second page of instructions for the Michigan Voter Registration Application, VPC mentions that:
students attending college may register using their campus address;
that residents of nursing homes may register using their medical facility;
and that shelters, cross streets, or landmarks may be accepted as a home address if the voter doesn't have a registered residential address.
It also informs voters that they can now use a post office box as their mailing address for absentee ballots if they so desire (and so could, i.e. Martha Smith, register at 123 Chestnut Street in Anywhere, Michigan, and also at P.O. Box 123 in Anywhere, Michigan?) and it states that inmates in jail awaiting trial or sentencing are still eligible to register and vote.
For persons registering to vote for the first time, VPC says that a copy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank statement, or a government document that lists their name and address is an acceptable form of federal ID. Really? All one needs to register to vote is a copy of a bank statement? Does a bank statement show that one is a United States citizen?
But VPC then prints this Note: "The identification requirement doesn't apply if you: (1) personally hand-deliver this form to your city, township, or county clerk's office instead of mailing this form, (2) are a person with a disability, or (3) are eligible to vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act." Perhaps VPC assumes that most of the people in the New American Majority don't own or rent a regular apartment or house, don’t have a paycheck stub, or don’t have a bank account.
(f) Finally, on the postage paid return envelope, VPC has already pre-printed the voter’s return address and the address of the Lansing City Clerk’s Office. The Lansing City Clerk’s office would have no idea that the voter was assisted from beginning to end by The Voter Participation Center!
Recently, in the March 29th, 2024 online edition of the Epoch Times Morning Brief there was a featured article titled “Behind Massive Mail-in Ballot Push Is a Little-Noticed Executive Order” which details how President Biden and his Administration plan to tilt the tables in the 2024 General Election in their favor by using every agency of the federal government to reach out to some key constituencies of the Democratic Party (namely poor urban minority voters and college-aged youth) to register them to vote and then ensure that they participate, i.e. vote in elections. To accomplish this goal, the President issued Executive Order 14019 on March 7th, 2021 which is titled 'Promoting Access to Voting'. It contains the marching orders for every Department within the Executive Branch directing them to use every lawful means at their disposal to implement President Biden’s mandate.
Was the Michigan Voter Registration Application that was mailed to my friend, an Iraqi refugee & Green Card holder, an attempt by VPC and the Biden Administration to register an ineligible non-citizen to vote? Certainly, he was identified by a computer algorithm somewhere looking for voting aged young people of color - so who is going to accept responsibility for episodes like this and ensure that the problem is addressed and corrected?
While it doesn't appear as if President Biden, his administration, or anyone at The Voter Participation Center cares about election integrity issues, there are millions of people across this great country who do. Readers of this article most likely do, which is why Michigan Fair Elections continue to educate and inform.
David Howell, retired Army National Guard Physician Assistant and former State Surgeon; four combat tours in Desert Storm, Iraq (2), and Afghanistan; awarded Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2), and Army Meritorious Service Medal (3). Howell currently serves as a volunteer docent at the Michigan History Museum and takes care of rescued horses with his wife on a small farm west of Lansing.
Learn how We The People can win back and secure OUR Future.
Join us Thursday, April 11th at 12 PM for
MFE's Coalition Task Force Meeting
Registration is required to attend the meeting.
You MUST use the link below for the April 11th meeting.
After registering, you will receive an email with details on how to join the meeting.
Note: Representatives of the media are allowed in our meetings only with prior permission.
Important Notes and Disclaimers for Election Integrity Network National Working Groups and coalition calls
We operate under strict 501 (c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan guidelines. Please do not make any comments during the call or in the chat that are directly related to any campaign or candidate running for office or could be considered an endorsement or opposition of that candidate.
All calls are “off the record.” This means that no members of the media are allowed on our calls without permission and this rule also applies to participants. No comment or presentation can be shared outside of the call without the express permission of the speaker. This includes the call "Notes" available to our participants.
We always welcome new participants but ask that all newcomers register with their own registration link. Please do not forward your personal link to another participant.
For the security of the call, if you join by phone, you may be asked to unmute and provide your name.
This meeting is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or instruction to lobby on behalf of any issue or organization.
Please donate to Michigan Fair Elections
MFE is a fiercely independent, tax-exempt 501(c)3 charity. We rely on voluntary contributions to fund our important, and sometimes costly, work. Legal claims are sometimes essential to improve the government and protect citizen rights, and they can be expensive. MFE accepts no government funding.
Please support MFE's investigative research, honest journalism, and litigative actions to defend We the People's inalienable rights as protected in the U.S. Constitution. Donate today to assist our educational efforts to protect the principles of individual liberty in America.
Mark your calendars to attend Election Integrity Network's outstanding national working groups. Consider also serving as liaison to report to MFE's Task Force Coalition on our Thursday meetings.
Citizen Research Project | Ned Jones, EIN
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. (ET)
Election Technology | Jim Womack, NCEIT
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Introduction to Election Integrity Infrastructure | Kerri Toloczko and Ned Jones, EIN
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET)
Vote By Mail / USPS | Ned Jones, EIN
Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Legislative Development | Kathleen Harms, TN
Every Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET)
Voter Roll Maintenance | Willard Helander, EIN
Every Wednesday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Vulnerable Voters | Kerri Toloczko, EIN
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Every 1st Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET)
Election Audits | Mike Raisch
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Building Local Task Forces | Joshua Taylor
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET)
Media Training | Kerri Toloczko
Every 1st Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET)
Mark Your Calendars:
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Michigan Fair Elections. Every article written by an MFE author is generated by the author or editor alone. Links embedded within the article, however, may have been generated by artificial intelligence.