A series of investigations into voter registration practices in Michigan began in 2023, when an 86‑page state police report raised serious questions about the integrity of the 2020 election.
The report, obtained through a freedom‑of‑information request, detailed allegations that a private organization, operating under the names GBI Strategies and Empower Michigan, distributed large volumes of questionable voter registration forms across the state.
Clerks in multiple Michigan cities reported receiving packages from a hotel in Auburn Hills that contained stacks of registrations with identical signatures, incomplete information, and the same last four digits of social security numbers.
One clerk noted that several registrations were already active, while others appeared to be fabricated or incomplete, prompting concerns about potential fraud.
Despite these findings, there has been limited response from state election officials, and the matter was not formally reported to law enforcement by many clerks, who instead shared their observations on a private Facebook group.
In March 2025, a group of legislators requested an investigation into the organization’s activities, citing possible violations of IRS regulations that prohibit tax‑exempt entities from engaging in partisan electioneering.
Investigations revealed that the firm received millions of dollars from several 501(c)(3) organizations, including the Voter Registration Project and the Voter Participation Center, for voter registration work during the 2020 election cycle.
Claims suggest that these nonprofits may have used targeted filters to exclude certain voters and that some of the registrations processed by the firm were fraudulent.
A recent presidential address called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged scheme, urging federal agencies to pursue any criminal conduct and to hold accountable those who may have facilitated it.
The case highlights the challenges of ensuring election integrity and underscores the need for transparent oversight of voter registration processes and the financial activities of organizations involved in electioneering.
