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Likely False: Ballots meant for overseas voters were sent to Detroit voters from 2017 to 2024, and voting sites were filled with illegal immigrants.

Michigan Updated

No official record shows overseas ballots being sent to Detroit voters for years.

The rumor: Likely False “Ballots meant for overseas voters were sent to Detroit voters from 2017 to 2024, and voting sites were filled with illegal immigrants.”

The facts: A viral video makes that claim using testimony from a Michigan House committee hearing, but it does not identify the meeting or the speaker. In August, Michigan's Attorney General charged five alleged noncitizens over 2024 votes; one, a United Kingdom resident, registered and voted through the federal overseas voting system, and charges are accusations, not proof of a pattern. Overseas and military voters swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens, and states run their own checks, so if you vote from abroad, return your ballot as usual.

How this story developed

  1. UW Center for an Informed Public flags a viral X video claiming years of overseas ballots sent to Detroit voters; it finds no official report supporting the claim.
  2. Michigan's Attorney General charges five alleged noncitizens over 2024 votes; one, a UK resident, used the federal overseas voter system. Charges are accusations.

Sources

  1. Michigan AG: charges against 5 noncitizens over 2024 votes, Aug 13 Other source
  2. UW CIP: no official report backs Detroit overseas ballot video, Oct 20 Fact-check Checked Archived copy
  3. Brennan Center: overseas voting safeguards and fraud claims, Oct 18 2024 Other source Checked Archived copy