Fact check: Trump falsely claims Michigan sent out absentee ballots and broke the law
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 6 years ago • 10 commentsBy: Daniel Dale, Ryan Nobles and Abby Phillip (CNN)
Michigan's secretary of state, Democrat Jocelyn Benson, is sending absentee ballot applications, not actual absentee ballots, to all 7.7 million registered voters. Contrary to Trump's claims in both tweets, this is not illegal. Republicans in other states have taken similar or even identical steps during the coronavirus pandemic.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump falsely claimed Wednesday that Michigan had sent absentee ballots to all of its registered voters and that the state's secretary of state had somehow broken the law.
"Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State," Trump tweeted at 7:51 AM. "I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!"
Six hours later, after numerous observers pointed out that the tweet was false in two ways, Trump deleted it and tweeted a new version -- which corrected the first false claim but repeated the second.
"Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election," Trump said in a 2:13 PM tweet, adding the word "applications" to the original sentence. "This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!"
Facts First : Trump's initial tweet was incorrect in two ways, his revised tweet incorrect in one. Michigan's secretary of state, Democrat Jocelyn Benson, is sending absentee ballot applications, not actual absentee ballots, to all 7.7 million registered voters. Contrary to Trump's claims in both tweets, this is not illegal. Republicans in other states have taken similar or even identical steps during the coronavirus pandemic.
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It must be rough to be a "conservative" knowing that your president and your candidate is a moron and there is nothing you can do about it.
How does it feel to support a candidate who has failed hundreds of fact checks?
You mean the impeachment 'facts' didn't work out?
Three years - and you have Tweedle Dumb on the stage.
Ya the President made an error and his correction wasn't much better, but here is what he might just be right about:
Trump said “I will ask to hold up” funding. He could be referring to funds that are discretionary in their distribution or he may be suggesting asking Congress to withhold such funds. Either could be constitutional.
So you would encourage the president to hold up funds to Michigan because they may make absentee voting available?
Is that actually what you are saying?
YES
That is absurd. Thanks for letting us know where you stand on the issue of letting people vote.
You would agree then that federal funds should be withheld from Utah, because according to Mitt Romney most people in that red state vote by mail.