Duplicate identification numbers open the door to bad actors to steal or nullify your vote. Here's how duplicates come about and how to stop them from falling into the wrong hands.
By Anne Hill | August 29, 2023
The State of Michigan has 8.2 million registrants on the Qualified Voter File as of July 2023. To be eligible to register to vote in Michigan, an individual must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 17 ½ years of age, a resident of the state, and a resident of the township or city where they register.
According to Michigan law, MCL 168.495, the registration application must contain the applicant’s name, address (including apartment number, rural route and box number, city or township, and county), birthdate, driver license or state personal identification card number, status of citizenship, location of last registration, and the applicant’s signature. After the information is verified and the applicant qualifies, the applicant is registered and issued a voter ID number unique to that individual in that state.
You are invited to join MFE Zoom at Noon today at 12 PM. Members only. Sorry, no press.
This voter ID number then generates additional data, such as registration date, the location of registration, and links to other information already in state and federal databases regarding the registrant. Information attached to a driver’s license or vehicle registration from the Secretary of State’s office includes, among other information, enhanced driver license data and enhanced official state personal identification, plus the person’s gender and social security number.
This unique voter ID number is supposed to follow an individual when he or she moves within the state or has a name change. If an individual is issued more than one voter ID number, they need to notify the local township or city clerk’s office immediately to have it corrected. The election official will be able to see other personal identifying information associated with the voter ID numbers in question (for example the person’s birthdate, driver’s license number, and social security number) to determine if a duplicate ID number was issued.
Below are examples of what duplicates may look like:
Full middle name vs. middle initial only (Same first and last name, year of birth, and address):
Married and changed last name (Same first and middle names, year of birth, and address):
A duplicate voter ID number may occur if a person moves to another local jurisdiction or county in the state of Michigan and the local clerk of the former jurisdiction is not notified. These mistakes happen for a few reasons and will be addressed in a future article. Suffice it to say, registrants should notify their local clerk when they move. They need to let the clerk know of their new address and request to be removed from their old address.
Checkmyvote.org, CMV, obtains QVF data each month from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office. Then CMV provides a free online service to check voter QVF information either by name or address. A person may look up their current address as well as the address they moved from if both are in Michigan. All individuals currently listed as registrants to vote will be listed at that address.
Go to Checkmyvote.org or https://checkmyvote.org/audit-my-address
If a duplicate voter ID number was issued, the local clerk may be able to merge the two records. Otherwise, the clerk may notify the Secretary of State’s office to request a merge of the records.
Why eliminating duplicate IDs is important
Much as we all would like to trust others, incidents like the nefarious 20-state registration ring that operated in Muskegon before the 2020 election serve as reminders. Elections can shift the balance of power and money, so they attract to bad actors, hellbent on affecting election outcomes.
Duplicate identification numbers swing open the door to bad actors. They can request address changes online and have ballots for duplicate IDs mailed to another address.
Call to action
Don’t let bad actors influence election outcomes. If you or someone you know moved as far back as 20 years ago, check out Checkmyvote.org. See if those who moved are still registered to that incorrect address. If so and if this is your home address, alert your local clerk. Tell him or her that a voter is listed as residing at your address and does not live there. The clerk can remove their names. If the phantom voter lives at another address, alert the homeowner and let them know to notify the clerk and have these names removed.
Protect your vote and others. Don’t let bad actors cancel you vote or other valid votes.
MFE hopes this information on the Voter Identification number has been helpful. Stay tuned for future articles on the Qualified Voter File.
About the author
Anne Hill serves on MFE’s Board of Directors and its Communications Team. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Northwood University’s Graduate School of Management and is a 16-year resident of the City of East Lansing,
Michigan Fair Elections is a fiercely independent, tax-exempt 501(c)3 charity. We are operated entirely by unpaid volunteers. We perform no contract work. We accept no government funds—not one penny. But we depend on voluntary contributions to fund our important work.
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.
Calendar of Events:
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)
Ranked Choice Voting | Melody Clarke, EIN
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Voter Roll Maintenance | Cleta Mitchell, EIN
Every Wednesday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Vulnerable Voters | Kerri Toloczko, EIN
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 4 p.m. (ET)
Kerri Toloczko: Join us on Tuesday, September 12th when we continue to discuss the importance of protecting minority voters through our Vulnerable Voters calls.
Media Training | Kerri Toloczko, EIN
Every 1st Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET)
