Michigan GOP Chair Asked To Explain Party’s Election Day Anti-Voter Fraud Plan

Federal judge’s order calls for Ronna Romney McDaniel to explain the state GOP’s Election Day anti-fraud effort.

Voting Vote Election 8

A federal judge in New Jersey is asking the Michigan Republican Party to explain its Election Day anti-fraud plan.

A 1982 consent decree prohibits voter intimidation as a part of Election Day ballot security programs. But Democrats say the Republican National Committee may be violating the decree.

They say Michigan GOP chair Ronna Romney McDaniel may be part of that scheme. The order specifically calls for Romney McDaniel to explain the state GOP’s Election Day anti-fraud effort. 

Brandon Dillon is the Michigan Democratic Party chair.

“She has been suggesting that people should be out monitoring polling places to protect against a fictional voter fraud effort and that’s what’s most concerning here,” he said.

But Romney McDaniel’s spokeswoman Sarah Anderson says they are not doing anything differently this year. 

“By the way the Democrats do this as well,” she said. “They send poll watchers across the state of Michigan. If any voter is feeling intimidated or if anybody is violating that agreement and speaking with voters or contacting voters, then I encourage voters to report that.”

The federal judge’s order asks the RNC to give all requested documents to the court by 5:00 Wednesday. Anderson says Michigan Republicans have not received the order. 

Author

  • Cheyna Roth is the co-host and creator of WDET's state politics podcast, MichMash. She has been an audio journalist for almost a decade, covering major events like presidential elections, college scandals, the Michigan Legislature and more, appearing on NPR and across Michigan public radio stations. Cheyna is also a senior producer and podcast host for Slate.com, having produced and hosted shows like Political Gabfest, The Waves, and What Next TBD. Also an author, Cheyna has written two true crime books and her written work has appeared in Broadly, Slate, and MLive, among others.