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.”

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Michigan Republican Party
September 18, 2020

Nessel And Benson Pick Partisanship Over Law

LANSING, Mich., September 18, 2020 — The following statement is from Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox regarding the failure of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to defend existing Michigan election law in the courts.

“Secretary of State Benson and Attorney General Nessel are expected to defend and execute the laws of this state.  They cannot pick and choose which laws they defend. Secretary of State Benson and  Attorney General Nessel are standing idle hoping that their political party will benefit from legal chaos. This dereliction of their constitutional duties is unacceptable. Michiganders elected AG Nessel and Secretary Benson to enforce the law, not stand back while new laws are made to benefit a partisan agenda.  This is an Executive Branch gone amok. Who is representing the people of this state? ”

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ACLU of Michigan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2020

ACLU CALLS ON ALL CITY AND TOWNSHIP CLERKS ACROSS THE STATE TO FOLLOW ABSENTEE VOTING RIGHTS LAWS

DETROIT, Mich. – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan sent a letter to over 1,500 municipal clerks across the state urging them to follow voting rights laws, including the constitutional amendment that was overwhelmingly passed in 2018 allowing voters to cast their absentee ballot in person or by mail during the 40 days before an election.  The 40-day period for the general election begins on September 24. The letter also reminds all clerks that state law requires them to issue absentee ballots to voters who apply for one by mail or online within 24 hours of receiving the application. 

“We can’t emphasize enough how critical it is that every city and township clerk comply with these legal requirements so that the constitutional rights of all voters in Michigan are protected,” said Sharon Dolente, ACLU of Michigan Voting Rights Strategist.  “We stand ready to offer information and guidance to election clerks so that they can comply with their legal obligations to ensure the right to vote is honored. Although we hope that all election clerks will carry out their legal duties, we also stand ready to enforce the rights of Michigan voters.” 

Today’s letter, which outlines in detail the legal obligations of all municipal clerks, are summarized below: 

 Applications for Absentee Ballots Must Be Processed Immediately

• Michigan law requires, at a minimum, that election clerks issue absentee voter ballots to voters no later than September 24 in response to any absentee ballot applications that have already been submitted by that date; and within 24 hours of receipt of any absentee ballot application received on September 24 or later. 

 Clerk Offices Must Be Open for In-Person Absentee Voting

• The 2018 constitutional amendment also requires election clerks to allow all registered voters to apply for, receive, and return an absentee ballot at an in-person location during regular business hours starting on September 24, 2020.  Clerks’ offices must also be open for in-person absentee voting for at least 8 hours on the weekend prior to the November election. 

 Photo ID Is Not Required for Registration or Voting

• Voting in person and registering to vote in person do not require photo identification. If a registered voter cannot provide identification upon request, the clerk must offer the voter the option to complete an affidavit indicating that the voter is not in possession of photo identification.  
• Similarly, if an individual cannot provide photo identification upon request when registering to vote in person, the clerk must offer the individual the option to complete an affidavit indicating that the individual is not in possession of photo identification. 

 Registering to Vote In Person Requires Proof of Residency Only On or After October 20, 2020

• Prior to October 20, 2020, an individual does not need to provide proof of residency when registering to vote in person at a clerk’s office or satellite office.    
• Beginning on October 20, 2020, voters must provide proof of residency in order to register to vote and be eligible to vote in the election on November 3.  Proof of residency may include but is not limited to photo identification.  Voters may also provide proof of residency in the form of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check or other government documentation.
  

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Priorities USA
September 17, 2020

Priorities USA Statement on the Michigan District Court’s Decision Granting a Preliminary Injunction Regarding Michigan Voter Transportation Law

Today, Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil issued the following statement in response to the Eastern District Court of Michigan’s Decision overturning a state ban on providing transportation to the polls for voters. The Michigan law made it a misdemeanor to “hire a motor vehicle or other conveyance or cause the same to be done, for conveying voters, other than voters physically unable to walk, to an election.”

“This decision by the Michigan District Court is a victory for all Michigan voters and another defeat for the baseless laws that make exercising the right to vote more difficult,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “We are encouraged that the District Court in Michigan recognized the absurdity of the Voter Transportation Law — giving voters who do not have easy access to personal transportation more opportunities to get to the polls and have their voices heard on election day. While Donald Trump and his allies make every effort to prevent Americans from voting this fall, we are fighting back and we are winning.”

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Priorities USA
April 21, 2020

Priorities USA Statement on Voting Rights Victory and Pivotal Signature Matching Reforms in Michigan

Today, Priorities USA moved to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s unconstitutional signature matching law. The law requires election officials to compare the signature on an absentee ballot with the voter’s corresponding signature on file with election authorities and to reject all absentee ballots with non-matching signatures. The voluntary dismissal comes after state officials adopted key reforms outlined in Priorities USA’s motion for preliminary injunction on February 25th. The reforms provide various forms of relief for Michigan voters including instructing clerks to provide notice of signature mismatch determinations within 24 hours by phone and email. Due to these much needed reforms, the initial lawsuit, which was filed in October 2019, is no longer needed.

Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA, released the following statement in response to the recent Michigan victory:

“We are facing unprecedented barriers to voting and that means we must collectively work toward safe and fair elections. I applaud the state of Michigan for recognizing the urgency of this issue and making it easier for voters to cast their absentee ballots. These new measures will also ensure that the people of Michigan will have increased access to the ballot and that is a win for everyone.”
In a preliminary injunction motion filed on February 25th, Priorities USA requested:

• A directive from the Secretary of State instructing clerks to provide notice of signature mismatch determinations within 24 hours of such determination by phone, text, and email.
• A directive from the Secretary of State implementing a cure procedure for absentee ballots and ballot applications.
•  A directive implementing safeguards to ensure that ballots are not flagged for signature mismatch unless officials find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the signatures do not match.
• Formal signature matching training.

On February 27th, Michigan issued the following directives:

• Clerks must “immediately” inform voters of missing or mismatched signatures using “any and all contact information available,” and should “call and e-mail the voter,” in addition to providing notice by mail.
• Voters can cure mail applications by mail, email, fax, or in person until 5 pm on Friday before Election Day, and may cure in-person applications by 4 pm on the Monday before Election Day.
•  Voters can cure absentee ballots by requesting a new absentee ballot up to 2 pm on Saturday Before Election Day, and may also cure absentee ballots in-person until 8 pm on Election Day.
• Introduced a new training resource that instructs clerks how to perform signature verification and includes specific examples. The Bureau of Elections will incorporate this guidance into the manuals and training for election officials.