NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
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Yesterday, the Michigan Court of Claims granted Attorney General Dana Nessel’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the rights of military and overseas voters brought by the Michigan Republican Party, Republican National Committee (RNC), and Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Director of Elections Jonathan Brater.
The attorney general argued the plaintiffs unreasonably delayed for years in challenging these longstanding laws and instructions, causing prejudice to both the secretary of state and voters, and the court agreed.
The state and national Republican parties sought to disallow certain military and overseas voters’ absent voter ballots by challenging the secretary’s instructions that explain how spouses or dependents of Michigan military or overseas voters can vote in the state’s elections.
Ignoring a 1996 statute that expressly permits this practice, the Michigan Republican Party and Republican National Committee argued the secretary’s instructions violate the Michigan constitution. The attorney general refuted this claim, and the court also concluded the secretary’s instruction was consistent with the statute.
“This baseless lawsuit was a clear attempt to disenfranchise Michigan’s military and overseas voters,” Nessel said. “I am glad the Court saw through this meritless effort to suppress votes and undermine the integrity of our election system. American citizens, especially those defending our country and their families, have every right to cast a ballot and participate in our electoral process. I am proud to stand up for them and our democracy, and I will continue to defend the voting rights of the great people of this state.
"Military voters deserve our respect for their service, their families, and their votes — not to be treated like a political football by the Michigan Republican Party and the RNC.”
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