BIRCH RUN, Mich. — Republican Michigan secretary of state candidate Anthony Forlini says improving election transparency, speeding up election results and reducing wait times at Secretary of State offices would be among his top priorities if elected.
During an interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy at an event in Birch Run, Forlini, the Macomb County clerk, discussed his experience overseeing elections and his concerns about how Michigan’s election system currently operates.
Forlini, a longtime Macomb County resident and business owner, said his experience as county clerk motivated him to seek statewide office.
“All the things we did in Macomb County to create reforms in elections, does it matter if it doesn’t go statewide?” Forlini said. “So in order to make these reforms go statewide, I decided I’m going to run for secretary of state.”
Forlini criticized the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office under Jocelyn Benson, arguing that state officials have not done enough to address public concerns about elections.
He said election officials should provide more information to voters rather than simply assuring them that elections are secure.
Forlini pointed to practices in Macomb County that he said allow the public to examine how ballots were processed and counted.
“We make sure that all of our tabulators are working and functioning properly,” Forlini said. “And how do we know that? Because we publish all of our ballots online and we put the ballots that were actually scored, how they were scored.”
He said the information allows the public to identify potential tabulation problems.
Forlini also argued that election transparency should be improved without compromising voter confidentiality.
His criticism reflects his concerns about election administration and does not, by itself, establish that Michigan’s election results have been inaccurate.
One of Forlini’s more ambitious proposals involves how quickly election results are reported.
During the interview, Bondy asked about lengthy election-night reporting delays in communities including Detroit and Genesee County.
Forlini said aging election equipment and changes to how voting machines transmit information have contributed to delays.
He claimed some tabulators are more than 10 years old and said changes involving modem use have complicated the reporting process.
Forlini said newer equipment and improved procedures could significantly reduce the time required to report results.
“My goal as secretary of state would be by 10:00 we’ll have all the results like Florida does it,” Forlini said.
He argued that Michigan should be capable of reporting election results more quickly, although he did not provide a detailed implementation timeline or cost estimate during the interview.
Beyond elections, Forlini said he wants to improve customer service at Secretary of State branch offices.
He pointed to changes made in Macomb County that he said have reduced waiting times for residents seeking county services.
According to Forlini, the county developed procedures allowing residents to check in and receive service more quickly while accommodating walk-in customers.
He said the average time between checking in and being served is less than four minutes, with the service itself taking less than 10 minutes.
\Forlini said he would seek similar improvements at the state level.
He also criticized the state’s telephone customer service, saying county employees frequently encounter voicemail when attempting to contact state offices.
“We’re going to answer the phone,” Forlini said, adding that employees should be held accountable for responding to calls.
Forlini also raised concerns about the Office of the Great Seal, which is responsible for certain official state records and notary-related functions.
He claimed fraudulent notarizations and property deed theft are problems that deserve greater attention, particularly in the Detroit metropolitan area.
Forlini said his experience with county property records has made him aware of those concerns.
The interview did not include independent documentation establishing the frequency of the alleged fraud.
Forlini also questioned Benson’s role as secretary of state while she campaigns for governor.
He stopped short of alleging that Benson could directly change election vote totals.
“I don’t believe at that level she can change the votes,” Forlini said.
However, he argued that decisions about voter registration outreach and election administration could create perceptions of political favoritism.
Forlini specifically questioned voter registration efforts on college campuses, suggesting that outreach should be more evenly distributed among different groups of potential voters.
He also raised concerns about voter privacy and the handling of voter registration information.
Forlini criticized Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, his Democratic opponent in the secretary of state race, questioning his experience and legislative attendance record.
Forlini claimed Gilchrist missed 94% of legislative sessions in 2025. That figure was not independently verified in the interview.
Forlini contrasted Gilchrist’s record with his own time in the Michigan Legislature, saying he never missed a vote during six years in office.
He also alleged that the handling of a citizen-led voting initiative demonstrated problems with the state’s election process. His allegations about signature verification and political interference were not independently substantiated during the interview.
Bondy said he has also requested interviews with Benson and Gilchrist as part of his effort to speak with candidates running for Michigan governor, secretary of state and attorney general.
Neither had responded to his requests at the time of the interview, Bondy said.
Bondy said he remains willing to interview Gilchrist and provide voters with an opportunity to hear from both candidates.
Forlini said his campaign centers on bringing his experience in county government to the statewide office, with an emphasis on election transparency, faster results and improved government services.
I have offered equal time to Forlini’s opponent Garlin Gilchrist but he has not yet taken me up on that offer.
