Alleged Fraudulent Voter Registrations Submitted to the Muskegon City Clerk’s Office
An FBI Detroit electronic communication dated 29 October 2020 summarizes allegations and then-pending local, state, and federal investigative activity concerning suspicious voter-registration applications received by the Muskegon City Clerk’s Office.
The memorandum summarizes allegations rather than a final case finding
The FBI electronic communication states that its purpose is to summarize allegations of fraudulent voter-registration submissions to the Muskegon clerk. It describes an active sensitive investigative matter and does not report a final charging decision or adjudicated result.
“This EC serves to summarize allegations of fraudulent voter registrations being submitted to the Muskegon City Clerk’s Office.”
The clerk reported specific indicators in six mailed packages
The memorandum says the clerk’s office received six packages beginning around 5 October and identified some applications as fraudulent based on nonexistent addresses, invalid telephone numbers, signature mismatches, and repeated handwriting. These are clerk-office determinations as reported in the FBI memorandum.
“MCCO received six packages via U.S. Mail containing voter registration applications.”
The reported 8,000–10,000 figure referred to total forms, not confirmed fraudulent registrations
The memo reports that approximately 8,000–10,000 forms were received in person or by mail in association with a redacted entity or person; police estimated that an undetermined number appeared fraudulent. It separately records that one delivery on 20 October contained approximately 2,500 applications.
“approximately 8 to 10 thousand applications of which an undetermined number appeared fraudulent.”
An interviewee asserted that registrations had been screened, while investigators noted inconsistencies
A redacted interviewee claimed the registrations were legitimate and had been cross-checked, with fraudulent forms removed at the organization’s office. The memo says investigators nevertheless viewed an inaccurate date of birth, inconsistent statements about worker compensation, and difficulty recalling a name as red flags; this records an interview and investigative assessment, not a final finding.
“claimed all the registrations were legitimate and cross-checked”
Local and state agencies were actively investigating and coordinating possible federal assistance
Muskegon police opened an investigation on 16 October, Michigan State Police joined on 22 October, and the state investigation involved the Attorney General’s office. By 29 October, search warrants were anticipated and FBI participation remained subject to coordination among state and federal prosecutors.
“On 10/16/2020, the MCPD initiated an investigation into allegations of Voter Registration Fraud.”