RNC Sues Michigan Secretary of State Over Guidelines for Processing Absentee Ballots

The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Michigan Republican Party are suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) over what they allege is “incomplete” guidance from her office on how election clerks should verify absentee ballots.

The case marks the RNC’s 16th voting-related lawsuit as Republicans amp up their election litigation ahead of the presidential race. It’s also the RNC’s fifth case in Michigan. This complaint takes issue with Benson’s guidance to election clerks, which she issued in February of 2024 and which plaintiffs say is at odds with Michigan election laws.

Plaintiffs say the document doesn’t inform clerks of all of their requirements under the law, which stipulates that “written or stamped on each absent voter ballot return envelope must be the date” on which the absent voter ballot return envelope was received by the city or township clerk and must also contain “a statement by the city or township clerk that the absent voter ballot is approved for tabulation.”

If a clerk determines the elector’s signature is missing or doesn’t match the signature on file, “the clerk shall reject the absent voter ballot and provide the elector with notice and the opportunity to cure the deficiency.”




https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/rnc-sues-michigan-secretary-of-state-over-guidelines-for-processing-absentee-ballots/