WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican
National Committee (RNC) Chairman Joe Gruters released the following statement
after the RNC sued Michigan for allowing non-residents to vote in the state’s
elections:
“Individuals who have never lived in the United
States, let alone Michigan, should not have a say in Michigan’s
elections,” said Chairman Gruters. “Democrat Secretary of State Jocelyn
Benson is ignoring the Michigan Constitution by allowing people who don't
live in Michigan to vote in Michigan. That’s why the RNC is fighting to ensure
only lawful votes count.”
Background:
- Today,
the RNC has filed a lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims against
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for permitting some
non-Michigan residents to vote in the state’s elections.
- The
Michigan
Constitution allows only
Michigan residents who meet state and local residency requirements to vote
in Michigan elections.
- Secretary Benson
issued an
election manual that violates
state law by allowing some voters who have never lived in Michigan,
and in some cases have never lived in the United States, to cast a
ballot.
- The
RNC is also challenging a provision in
Michigan law that purports to allow some
non-residents to vote, which likewise violates the Michigan Constitution.
- This
lawsuit follows a similar lawsuit filed by the RNC in Arizona, where the RNC is suing to ensure that only eligible Arizona
residents vote in Arizona elections.
- The
RNC also won a similar lawsuit in North Carolina, in which the North
Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that
allowing non-residents to vote in North Carolina’s elections violated the
North Carolina Constitution's residency requirement.
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