Michigan Secretary of State candidate looks to help first-time voters

Jocelyn Benson has put college students’ needs at the forefront of her campaign to be Michigan’s next Secretary of State.

“I’ve prioritized the voice of our youth,” the Democrat candidate told a group of about 50 people Wednesday at Election Kick-off 2010 in Charles V. Park Library’s Strosacker Room. The event was sponsored by College Democrats.

If elected as the chief enforcer of election laws in Michigan, Benson said she would make numerous improvements to the system to make it easier for everyone, but especially for students, to vote.

She said she would implement regional SOS offices on college campuses so first-time student voters can get an absentee ballot to vote instead of voting in person at polls, which may be inconveniently located or conflict with class schedules.

Benson would also work to eliminate Rogers’ Law, which requires a Michigan resident’s registered voter address and driver’s license to match, she said.

“(Rogers’ Law) curtails your ability to choose where you want to be politically active,” Benson said.

College Democrats President Brad O’Donnell, a Clinton Township junior, said his group officially endorsed Benson on Feb. 11.

Benson’s CMU campus coordinator and College Democrat, Michelle Shamaly, said the group endorsed Benson because she had made significant efforts to reach out to the College Democrats and to CMU students in general.

“(Benson has) always been very open about coming to talk to us about anything,” the Mount Pleasant junior said. “We thought that she was the right candidate for the race and we feel that she is going to win the nomination.”

Shamaly said if Benson wins the primary election, her field coordinators will make sure her message is properly communicated, volunteers are recruited and constituents are registered to vote.

Ben Dotson, the College Democrat’s advocacy coach and a Tennessee senior who is currently working on two political campaigns, said in order for Benson to win the general election in November, she needs to focus on spreading her message.

“The College Democrats look forward to campaigning for (Benson) on her behalf in the fall and helping her spread her message in the Mount Pleasant community and Isabella County,” Dotson said.

Benson is currently an assistant professor at Wayne State University Law School. Her book, “Democracy and the State Secretary of State,” has a March 16 release date.