The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Michigan Republicans have filed a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, accusing her of issuing absentee ballot guidelines that undermine election integrity. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, seeks to block Benson’s February 2024 absentee ballot guidance, arguing that it fails to ensure proper verification.
At the core of the lawsuit is the claim that Benson’s guidance does not provide clear instructions for verifying absentee ballot signatures. Michigan law requires absentee ballots to include verified signatures, but the RNC contends that Benson’s rules leave room for ballots to be improperly handled and counted.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley criticized Benson’s policies, stating that they would “undermine protections for absentee voters.” The RNC wants to prevent Benson from enforcing her guidelines ahead of the November election, citing concerns over the potential for election discrepancies in a key swing state.
The lawsuit references an incident from the August 2024 primary in Warren, Michigan, where thousands of absentee ballots were allegedly counted without verification. The RNC argues that similar issues could occur in the presidential election if Benson’s policies are not revised.
With Michigan being a critical battleground state, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election. Republicans are pushing for stricter enforcement of election laws to ensure every vote is properly counted.
