Judge: Michigan Secretary Of State’s Lax Ballot Signature Guidance Is Unconstitutional

[Right_in_Virginia]

Judge: Michigan Secretary Of State’s Lax Ballot Signature Guidance Is Unconstitutional
The Federalist, Jun 13, 2024

A judge ruled Wednesday that Michigan’s Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s guidance telling election officials to presume the validity of absentee ballot signatures is unconstitutional.

During the 2020 election, Benson sent out guidance to election officials “that included a presumption of validity for voters’ signatures on absentee-ballot applications and absentee ballots processed at the local level,” the ruling from Court of Claims Judge Christopher Yates explains.

The Michigan Republican Party and the Allegan County clerk initially challenged the presumption of validity provision, and the Court of Claims “determined that the guidance was impermissible.” In response to the ruling, the Michigan Department of State created new guidance for signature matching that included a provision requiring officials to presume that the signature being reviewed is valid. Yates, in his ruling, noted that there was a “strong” negative response to this particular provision during a public comment period, and the state agreed on striking the language.

More: https://thefederalist.com/2024/06/13/judge-michigan-secretary-of-states-lax-ballot-signature-guidance-is-unconstitutional/

[Right_in_Virginia]

George
@BehizyTweets

BREAKING: A Michigan judge just ruled that the Democrat Secretary of State's election manual issued to local election officials is unconstitutional & against state law. He is also mandating strict signature verification for mail in votes in the upcoming 2024 election

"The Court declares that the "initial presumption" of validity in signature verification of absentee-ballot applications and envelopes mandated by the December 2023 guidance manual issued by defendants is incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the State of Michigan. For similar reasons, the Court declares that the catch line referring to an "initial presumption of validity" in R 168.22 is incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the State of Michigan. Accordingly, those provisions must be excised from the guidance manual and the catch line in R 168.22" - Judge Christopher Yates

9:39 PM · Jun 12, 2024

[Right_in_Virginia]

Full ruling:  https://x.com/BehizyTweets/status/1801066764396081372

[Right_in_Virginia]

RNC declares 'victory' in judge ruling on Michigan secretary of state's signature verification rule
Just the News, Jun 13, 2024

On Wednesday, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Yates ruled "that the 'initial presumption' of validity in signature verification of absentee-ballot applications and envelopes mandated by the December 2023 guidance manual" issued by Benson "is incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the State of Michigan."

The RNC, Michigan Republican Party, and the National Republican Congressional Committee filed the lawsuit.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement Thursday, “This RNC legal victory confirms the importance of mail ballot safeguards in Michigan’s Constitution. The Secretary of State’s covert attempts to sidestep these rules were rightfully rejected by the court, exposing that her attacks on election integrity have no substance. This win is just the latest development in our ongoing fight to promote fair and transparent elections in the Great Lakes State.”

Benson had issued guidance in 2020 "to local election officials that included a presumption of validity for voters' signatures on absentee-ballot applications and absentee ballots processed at the local level," the court explained in its ruling. The Michigan GOP sued over the guidance, which was struck down by the court in March 2021.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/judge-partially-rules-against-michigan-secretary-states-lenient-signature

[Cyber Liberty]

So, what is the likelihood Michigan will just ignore this Decision, like PA?

[Fishrrman]

"A Michigan judge just ruled that the Democrat Secretary of State's election manual issued to local election officials is unconstitutional & against state law. He is also mandating strict signature verification for mail in votes in the upcoming 2024 election"

Fishrrman "how could I not see this coming?™" prediction:

The DCommunists will simply "forget to enforce" or outright ignore the judge's order...

(note: composed my reply before reading Cyber's reply above this one -- posting anyway!)

[Cyber Liberty]

"A Michigan judge just ruled that the Democrat Secretary of State's election manual issued to local election officials is unconstitutional & against state law. He is also mandating strict signature verification for mail in votes in the upcoming 2024 election"

Fishrrman "how could I not see this coming?™" prediction:

The DCommunists will simply "forget to enforce" or outright ignore the judge's order...

(note: composed my reply before reading Cyber's reply above this one -- posting anyway!)