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Federal Appeals Court Sides with Michigan in Voter Roll Dispute
The ongoing tug-of-war over voter data took a significant turn this week as Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson secured a crucial win in a federal appeal. A ruling from the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has decreed that the Trump administration’s demand for unredacted voter rolls from states, including sensitive personal data, lacks legal grounds.
The 2-1 ruling, issued on Wednesday, clarified that the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not authorize federal intervention in obtaining non-public voter information. This decision, involving Michigan as the lead plaintiff, emphasizes state sovereignty in managing election processes.
In response to the decision, Secretary Benson remarked, “The law cannot be any clearer– states run elections, the federal government is not entitled to Michigan voters’ personal data, and the president cannot change election law with the stroke of a pen.”
As the strongest legal affirmation to date of a state’s right to reject presidential orders on this matter, the Sixth Circuit’s decision is expected to face an appeal, potentially advancing to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump Administration’s Next Moves and Other Legal Battles
The Trump administration has not hesitated to express its intention to contest the ruling, viewing it as a temporary setback. In parallel, a separate case in Massachusetts resulted in a federal judge ruling that the U.S. Postal Service must deliver mail-in ballots, regardless of their presence on a federal list, a decision holding particular weight in mail-in ballot-friendly Michigan.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson conveyed the administration’s stance, stating, “President Trump is committed to ensuring that Americans have full confidence in the administration of our elections.”
The administration seeks access to voter rolls, including private records, to enable the Department of Homeland Security to verify voters’ citizenship statuses. However, Michigan’s Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie assured that the state already verifies citizenship through driver’s license registrations and regular audits.
Notably, a 2024 audit identified only 16 citizenship-related issues among 5.7 million registered voters, with these cases referred to the Michigan Attorney General for further examination.
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Have questions about Michigan politics? Or, just want to let us know what you want more of (less of?) in the newsletter? We always want to hear from you! Shoot us an email at politics@michiganpublic.org!
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Michigan Senate Democrats propose new data center regulations. What would the bills do and could they actually become law?
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What we’re talking about at the dinner table
Political Endorsements and State Budget Talks
Trump endorses James: As absentee ballots go out, President Trump endorsed Republican Congressman John James’ gubernatorial bid. Trump commended James as a veteran poised to invigorate the economy and bolster Michigan’s workforce. Following this endorsement, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign to support James.
Budget breakthrough: In budgetary news, an agreement has been reached among the Michigan House, Senate, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer on broad spending targets, with the deadline for finalizing budget bills approaching. Jennifer Smith, from the Michigan Association of School Boards, expressed optimism about these developments, though specific allocations remain under discussion.
Data center rally: Meanwhile, opposition to new data center projects is growing, with protesters in Lansing urging lawmakers to halt approvals. A legislative pause on these projects is under consideration, with bipartisan support leaning towards regulation rather than outright prohibition, as reported by Michigan Public Radio Network’s Colin Jackson.
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Yours in political nerdiness,
Rick Pluta & Zoe Clark
Co-hosts, It’s Just Politics
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