Michigan Republicans sue to keep ballot drive changes intact
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Republican-led House and Senate are suing to preserve a law that makes it harder to qualify proposals for the statewide ballot.
Two lawsuits filed Wednesday in the Court of Claims and state appeals court seek to force Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to follow the law enacted in December. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel has said key parts are unconstitutional.
The law says no more than 15% of petition signatures can be counted from a single congressional district.
Republicans say the legislation was a valid exercise of their right to enact voting laws and “ensure the integrity of the democratic process.”
While Nessel’s opinion is binding on state officials, courts will have the final say.
Voting-rights advocates and others recently sued to block the new requirements.
Michigan Secretary of State: New voter law unenforceable
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says her office will take steps to promote college-age voting to resolve a lawsuit in which young Democrats challenged two laws they say discourage them from participating in elections.
A law requiring that a voter’s registration match his or her driver’s license address will remain intact. But Benson says a requirement that some first-time voters cast a ballot in person if they registered by mail or a third-party registration drive was rendered moot by a 2018 voter-approved constitutional amendment that lets voters vote absentee without giving a reason.
Benson, a Democrat, said Wednesday she will create a website dedicated to providing voting information to college students and first-time voters. She also will more frequently deploy a mobile office to boost voter registration on campuses.
2019 Bench-Bar Culinary Challenge set for June 12
“Grilling for Good,” the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan 2019 Bench-Bar Culinary Challenge, will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 in Shed 4 at the Eastern Market in Detroit. Representing “Grilled from the Bench” will be Justice Megan Cavanagh, Judge Jake Cunningham, Judge Julie McDonald, Judge Julie Gatti, and Judge Kathy Tocco. Composing “Grilled by the Hour” will be Lori Finazzo, Paul Addis, Sarah Kuchon, Karyn MacDonald, Kathleen MacDonald (retired judge) and Todd Perkins. The cost to attend is $75 per person and includes all food, beer and wine. Register online at https:// www.womenlawyers.org.
Correction
In the June 5, 2019, edition of the Detroit Legal News an outdated story concerning upgrades to the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse was published in error. The project is actually coming to an end. We regret the mistake.
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