On Wednesday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by 11 Republican state lawmakers in Michigan, challenging recent changes to election laws. U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering, appointed by President Biden, ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue. The lawmakers had sued Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state election officials, arguing that voter-initiated changes to voting laws in 2022 should be invalidated because only the state Legislature should have the authority to regulate them.
In her ruling, Judge Beckering stated that the lawmakers failed to demonstrate injury-in-fact and lacked standing to bring the lawsuit. The legislators targeted two ballot initiatives that introduced universal absentee ballots, universal early voting, and other election changes. These initiatives, which garnered support from a majority of voters, allowed for same-day voter registration, absentee voting, and nine days of early voting before election day.
State Sen. Jim Runestad, a Republican, expressed plans to appeal the ruling, emphasizing the impact it could have on the November 2024 elections. However, Democratic state officials, including Attorney General Dana Nessel, welcomed the judge’s decision, calling the lawsuit baseless and affirming the importance of citizen initiatives in shaping government policies.
Separate Lawsuit Filed
Following the 2020 election, Republicans raised concerns about irregularities in Michigan and filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to address voter registration issues. The lawsuit alleged violations of federal voting laws related to maintaining clean registration rolls.
Secretary Benson refuted the claims, stating that Michigan had made significant efforts in recent years to update voter rolls and ensure their accuracy. She criticized the lawsuit as a tactic to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
As Michigan remains a crucial battleground state, polls indicate a close race between former President Trump and President Biden in potential matchups. The state is expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the next presidential election.
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