LANSING, Mich. — An alleged attempt to sell a piece of voting equipment on eBay is under investigation by law enforcement, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office said Thursday.
Someone allegedly tried to sell a voter assist terminal, a device used to help voters with disabilities mark their ballots, Benson's office said.
"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," the Democratic secretary of state said in a statement.
Lt. Derrick Carroll, a Michigan State Police spokesman in northern Michigan, confirmed Thursday an investigation is ongoing. But he declined to provide other details.
The Cadillac News reported Thursday that the piece of equipment was from a township in Wexford County.
Wexford County Clerk Alaina Nyman told the newspaper a voting machine had gone missing before the Aug. 2 primary. The piece of equipment "found its way for sale online," Nyman told the paper.
For months, Michigan authorities have been investigating various efforts by individuals to gain access to election technology in the battleground state as part of a push by supporters of former President Donald Trump to advance unproven claims of voter fraud.
Following a monthslong probe, Attorney General Dana Nessel's office sought the appointment of a special prosecutor on Aug. 5 to consider an array of potential criminal charges against nine individuals, including Republican attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, state Rep. Daire Rendon, a Lake City Republican, and Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf.
Nessel's office said the group engaged in a "conspiracy" to gain improper access to voting machines, to take the tabulators to hotels or rental properties in Oakland County, to break into the machines and to perform "tests" on the equipment, according to the letter.
DePerno has denied he did anything wrong.
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