Michigan Court Rejects GOP Lawsuit Over Overseas Voting Guidance
In a recent decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit brought forth by Republican entities challenging the guidance issued by Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson concerning absentee voting for overseas residents.
The lawsuit, initiated by the Republican National Committee, the Michigan Republican Party, and a township clerk, argued that Benson’s guidance potentially allowed individuals such as former spouses and dependents lacking a genuine connection to Michigan to participate in state elections. However, the court’s ruling was not based on the content of the guidance but rather on the timing of the lawsuit, which was filed less than a month before the November 2024 election and after absentee ballots had already been distributed to overseas voters.
According to the court’s opinion, “This case challenges the breadth of one of the rights foundational to our democracy—the right to vote. But it does so narrowly. First, this case concerns itself with only a select group of voters: individuals who vote in Michigan elections who do not presently live in Michigan. Second, this case is temporally limited, too, focusing exclusively on obtaining relief in advance of the 2024 election, which has since come and gone and been certified.”
Secretary of State Benson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, terming the lawsuit as “frivolous” and “shameful.” She told Michigan Public Radio, “It was a PR stunt and an attempt to cause chaos and create doubt about the security of our elections and the integrity of our system. I’m grateful for the court seeing through that so that we can move forward in giving all citizens the information they need to vote no matter where they may find themselves in the world.”
On the other hand, Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad defended the lawsuit, stating its purpose was to provide “clarity” on the rules governing overseas voting. He remarked to Michigan Public Radio, “If there’s uncertainty, if there’s a nebulous ruling that people can’t quite know what the rules are, then the bad actors begin to play within the rules. So, it’s always a good thing to have clarity within the law.”
Runestad, who also serves as a state senator, pointed out that the court’s decision was grounded in procedural issues rather than the merits of the case. He suggested that Republicans might consider filing a similar lawsuit in anticipation of the 2026 elections.
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