Priorities USA Statement on Voting Rights Victory in Michigan
Today, Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil issued the following statement in response to the decision by the Michigan Court of Claims to allow ballots postmarked by the day before Election Day to be counted as provisional ballots as long as they are received by the canvass deadline which is 14 days after Election Day. Additionally, the Court granted a preliminary injunction on the Voter Assistance Ban. This allows voters to select any individual they choose to assist them in returning a ballot during the limited time period when assistance from the clerk is not required, i.e., between 5:01 p.m. on the Friday before the election (Friday, October 30) and the close of polls on Election Day. Priorities USA supported and funded a legal challenge to these provisions which limit access to absentee voting.
“We have won yet another important victory for voters in the State of Michigan,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “We are encouraged by the fact that the courts in Michigan have repeatedly taken the side of the people. By eliminating both the voter assistance ban and an arbitrary ballot receipt deadline, the Court has made it clear that all Michiganders should be able to exercise their right to vote without restriction. I am hopeful that we will see similar victories for democracy in the weeks to come.”