Mike Rogers, a former Republican Senate candidate, said on May 3 that he wants to recruit off-duty or retired police officers as poll watchers in Detroit. According to reporting from The Detroit News, Rogers made these comments during a meeting with the Kalamazoo County GOP on April 17 and suggested this approach would deter attempts at voter intimidation.
The issue is significant because using law enforcement as poll watchers has historically been associated with intimidating voters of color. Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum responded to Rogers’ remarks by saying, “If Mike Rogers does not want to lose because of the legitimate votes of qualified, registered voters in the City of Detroit, I would recommend spending less time trying to negate their votes and more time trying to speak to their issues. But he is starting off from behind when he tries to intimidate and disenfranchise the city with the largest concentration of people of color in the state.”
Rogers also repeated claims about ballots being delivered late at night after Election Day during his remarks. He stated that a van full of ballots had “swung” his 2024 race against Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Byrum addressed these claims by explaining that absentee ballots arriving before polls close must be logged and checked before processing.
The Michigan Democratic Party operates statewide as a political organization focused on advocacy and elections according to its official website. The party works throughout Michigan from grassroots activities up through state-level efforts at the Capitol according to its official website. It engages communities by providing opportunities for volunteering, door-knocking, and learning about running for office according to its official website.
Additionally, the Michigan Democratic Party addresses issues important across Michigan while advocating for families, seniors, students, and veterans according to its official website. Its headquarters are located at 606 Townsend Street in Lansing according to its official website.
Byrum concluded her response by stating that clerks like Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey “will not stand for the kind of voter intimidation that Rogers is suggesting.”
