Michigan State Police are currently investigating an illegal attempt to sell a voter assist terminal from Wexford County.
“I can confirm the MSP Cadillac Post is investigating a missing piece of voting equipment,” stated Michigan State Police Lt. Derrick Carroll. “The investigation is ongoing.”
The machine was not used to tabulate ballots, but is typically used by voters with disabilities to help mark their ballot privately.
The Wexford County Clerk said in a statement they are working with state police to get the matter handled accordingly. And Election security in Wexford County has been, and will continue to be, her top priority as County Clerk.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson released the following statement about the stolen equipment:
“We are actively working with law enforcement to investigate allegations of an illegal attempt to sell a voter assist terminal acquired in Michigan. Voter assist terminals are not used to tabulate ballots, but are typically used by voters with disabilities who need assistance marking their ballot privately at polling places.
While our elections remain secure and safe, we take seriously all violations of election law and will be working with relevant authorities to ensure there are consequences for those who break the law.”
According to CNN the machine was bought by a cypersecurity expert in Connecticut. The machine was dropped off at Goodwill in Cadillac before it was sold last month on Ebay by a man in Ohio. He bought the machine for $7.99 and sold it on Ebay for $1,200. The list read “own a piece of history.”
CNN also reports that the listing said it was one of the thousands used in the 2020 Presidential Election, and included in one of the many lawsuits against Dominion Voting Systems that were thrown out.
The Connecticut man who bought the device just got it last week and contacted the Secretary of State’s office, according to CNN. Benson says her team contacted law enforcement as soon as they learned about the machine on Ebay.
Right now, CNN says it is still not known how the machine ended up at the Goodwill in Cadillac as Michigan Sate Police are still investigating.
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