In case you missed it, the Republican National Committee has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for restricting the rights of poll workers in Michigan ahead of Election Day.
In a new report, The Federalist highlights the latest attempt by Benson to break state law and limit the ability of poll challengers – regardless of their political affiliation – from doing their jobs.
Benson’s latest efforts would seek to create additional burdens for credentialing and appointing poll challengers, restricting which challengers poll workers can communicate with, and even place burdens on the type of electronic devices (like phones) challengers could have. Implementing the last minute rules “without any formal rulemaking or process” would violate the state’s Administrative Procedures Act, according to The Federalist.
Sadly, it’s not the first time Benson has tried, and failed, to circumvent state election law. In 2021, Benson’s decision to instruct election clerks to “presume the accuracy of absentee ballot signatures” was overturned by State Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray according to The Detroit News.
Bottom Line: The Republican National Committee is committed to holding Democrat officials accountable, protecting existing election laws, and ensuring transparency at the ballot box nationwide.
Read more from The Federalist below:
Lawsuit: Michigan Secretary of State Broke The Law With Rogue Restrictions On Poll Challengers
The Federalist
“But most recently, Benson’s come under fire for issuing last-minute guidance restricting the ability of Michiganders to oversee their local elections. The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit on Monday to stop Benson’s guidance from going into effect for the November general election. The lawsuit alleges that before Michigan’s Aug. 2 primary, Benson issued last-minute guidance that conflicts with Michigan election law regarding poll challengers.”
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“Benson has a history of supporting restrictions on poll challengers, a tactic used to decrease citizen oversight into local elections and rig them in Democrats’ favor. But it’s not just happening in Michigan: The RNC has also sued North Carolina’s State Board of Elections for similar efforts to restrict poll watchers in violation of state election law.”
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“’Volunteers across the political spectrum have a right to be poll challengers, and election laws exist to be followed — not subverted by Democrat officials at the last minute,’ RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a press release.”
