The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over her absentee ballot policies. The lawsuit, filed in state court on Tuesday, argues that Benson’s guidelines for absentee ballots are incomplete and could lead to election integrity issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the claim that Benson’s guidance, issued in February 2024, lacks essential protections for verifying absentee ballots. According to the complaint, Michigan law requires that absentee ballot envelopes include a verification of the voter’s signature, and any discrepancies must be addressed. The RNC argues that Benson’s guidance does not adequately ensure that clerks are fulfilling these legal obligations.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated that Benson’s policies would “undermine protections for absentee voters” by allowing improper handling and counting of ballots. The lawsuit aims to stop Benson from implementing these procedures in time for the upcoming election, asserting that the guidance violates Michigan election law.
The case also cites an example from the August 2024 primary in Warren, Michigan, where thousands of absentee ballots were allegedly counted without proper verification. The RNC and the Michigan Republican Party contend that this failure could lead to further discrepancies in the 2024 presidential election if left unchecked.
With Michigan being a key battleground state, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for election integrity in the upcoming race.
