Priorities USA Funds Motion to Intervene in Latest Attempt by Republicans to Suppress Voting Rights in Michigan

October 02, 2020

Today, Priorities USA funded an intervention on behalf of the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans, the A. Philip Randolph Institute Detroit/Downriver Chapter, and Michigan voters to defend a recent victory in the Michigan Court of Claims which struck down both the ballot receipt deadline and the voter assistance ban.

On September 29, Republican former Michigan secretaries of state and individual voters, including a Republican operative, filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn the previous ruling which granted injunctive relief regarding the ballot receipt deadline and voter assistance ban.

Although the Court of Claims enjoined the ballot receipt deadline and the voter assistance ban for the November election, the plaintiffs in the latest filing are only challenging the ballot receipt deadline. The suit seeks to prevent Secretary Benson from acting on her “policy” to count ballots received after election day. The suit also falsely claims the Secretary will accept ballots without postmarks.

This suit is Republicans’ latest attempt to suppress the vote in the State of Michigan—after the GOP has already made four attempts to intervene in the original case. Priorities USA will continue to ensure that every eligible voter can have their voice heard in this election.

“This case was clearly decided by the Michigan Court of Claims and it is shameful that the GOP would go to such lengths to prevent ballots from being counted,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA.  “It is notable that one of the ‘individual voters’ bringing this challenge is, in fact, a Republican operative. This challenge does not represent Michigan voters, only the Republicans who know that they cannot win unless they disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters. We are confident that the federal court will see through the GOP’s blatant attempt to suppress the vote and rule in our favor as they have before.”