Benson Unveils Michigan's New Voting Info Dashboard

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced the introduction of a new tool designed to provide transparency and ease in tracking voting data across the state. The Michigan Voting Information Dashboard, as it is called, was launched on Wednesday with an aim to make election information more accessible for citizens. 
 
The idea behind this initiative started when mail-in voting information began being released publicly weeks before elections since 2020. However, the dashboard aims to take this transparency a step further by allowing users to view how many citizens are casting their votes ahead of Election Day. 
 
Developed in collaboration with the University of Michigan, this innovative tool can be accessed via mobile devices and complies with ADA guidelines. The dashboard offers insights into data segregated by county and municipality levels. It also provides features that enable comparison of trends across different locations. 
 
As per Benson's statement during the launch, "This dashboard will allow anyone to see how many Michigan citizens are casting their voting ballots ahead of Election Day." She added that these early glimpses would offer valuable insights about voter engagement in democracy during specific cycles not only for voters but also for candidates, elected officials, and media. 
 
The continuous development plan for the dashboard includes adding options like checking trends across various election cycles along with accessing election results and voter registration information. 
 
Drawing from Michigan's qualified voter file, daily updates ensure real-time revelation of emerging trends as elections progress. As reported by Benson on October 15th, over 670k voters have already submitted their ballots, which accounts for nearly one-third of total ballot requests from around 2.1 million people statewide. 
 
Benson clarified that while this new tool offers diverse informational resources regarding elections, she insisted that voters should still rely on county clerks' websites for obtaining early information or unofficial results immediately after closing polls on Election Day. 
 
Beyond providing access to crucial electoral data in an in an easily comprehensible format, another significant role envisioned for this dashboard is enhancing election security through contextualizing numbers in accordance with laws and procedures governing elections. Benson believes that this feature would help mitigate the spread of misinformation during election season. 
 
As Election Day is scheduled for November 5th, voters are reminded to cast their ballots before polls close at 8 p.m. The Michigan Voting Information Dashboard can be accessed at michigan.gov/votingdashboard for those interested in tracking voting data across the state. 
 
In conclusion, initiatives like the Michigan Voting Information Dashboard align with efforts towards improving democratic processes by leveraging technology for transparency and accessibility. It also serves as a testament to the government's commitment towards ensuring citizen engagement and participation through informed decision-making in electoral matters. 
(Photo credit: Michigan Secretary of State).