In yet another legal setback for Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has scored its 10th victory this year in a case surrounding election integrity.
The latest lawsuit, which centered on the state’s handling of absentee ballots, is part of a growing list of legal challenges that Benson has lost to the RNC. This time, Michigan Republicans claimed Benson failed to follow key election laws designed to protect the integrity of absentee ballots, specifically laws concerning ballot number matching.
The legal battle began in September when Michigan Republicans, with the backing of the RNC, filed a lawsuit against Benson, accusing her of violating state election security law. At the heart of the case was the argument that Benson had ignored Michigan’s laws requiring strict matching of ballot numbers between the ballot itself, the poll book, and the return envelope. This safeguard is in place to ensure that ballots are correctly cast and properly counted.
Michigan Republicans argued that Benson’s failure to implement these safeguards could potentially open the door to voter fraud. According to the lawsuit, election integrity staff from the RNC had observed several absentee ballots being counted without the necessary ballot stub numbers, a key component of Michigan’s election security measures. Stub numbers are crucial in identifying individual ballots and ensuring that voters are casting the correct ballots, especially in cases of absentee voting, where physical oversight is limited.
State law in Michigan is clear: ballots with missing or mismatched stub numbers must be rejected by local election clerks and inspectors. In such cases, voters are given the opportunity to correct their ballots within a three-day window after Election Day, ensuring that they have a chance to remedy any issues and have their votes counted.
However, Republicans allege that Benson issued guidance to election officials that allowed these mismatched ballots to be processed as “challenged” ballots rather than rejected outright. According to Michigan election procedures, “challenged” ballots are still tabulated and included in the election results, even if they are flagged for issues. Republicans argued that this process not only contradicted state law but also potentially allowed questionable ballots to influence the outcome of elections.
This lawsuit is just one of many that Benson has faced from the RNC and Michigan Republicans, all centered around election integrity. By the RNC’s count, this marks the 10th legal victory against Benson in 2024 alone, with the 9th case being decided just last month. The Michigan Secretary of State has come under increasing scrutiny from Republicans, who accuse her of bypassing state election laws and undermining voter confidence.
The court ruling is significant not just for the immediate impact on Michigan’s election procedures but also because of what it reveals about the ongoing political battle over election integrity. Republicans have argued that the handling of absentee ballots in key states like Michigan is critical to maintaining free and fair elections. In states where absentee and mail-in voting have become more common, the need for clear and enforceable safeguards has become a central issue.
One of the most contentious aspects of the case was a statement made by Benson during the court proceedings. According to reports, Benson admitted that ballots with mismatched serial numbers could be a sign of voter fraud.
This admission was seized upon by Republicans as further proof that Benson’s approach to election oversight was flawed and potentially opened the door to fraudulent activities. While Benson did not go so far as to accuse anyone of specific wrongdoing, the acknowledgment that mismatched ballots could be problematic added fuel to the ongoing debate about absentee ballot security.
The RNC celebrated its latest legal win on Monday, with party officials framing it as a significant step toward ensuring election integrity in Michigan. In a statement, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel praised the decision, saying, “This is another victory for voters who want their elections to be secure and transparent. Jocelyn Benson’s repeated disregard for Michigan’s election laws is a serious issue, and we will continue to hold her accountable.”
For Benson, this defeat is the latest in a series of legal challenges that have painted her tenure as Secretary of State in a negative light—at least in the eyes of her critics. While she has consistently defended her actions as necessary to streamline election processes and adapt to changing voter behaviors, particularly with the increase in absentee and mail-in voting, her opponents argue that these changes have come at the expense of election security.
The legal battle between Michigan Republicans and Benson is far from over, as both sides prepare for more challenges in the run-up to future elections. Republicans are likely to continue their efforts to tighten absentee ballot procedures, while Democrats, including Benson, will argue that their changes are aimed at expanding voter access and participation. However, with this latest ruling, it’s clear that the RNC is not backing down in its efforts to reshape election processes in Michigan and beyond.
As the political and legal fights continue, the issue of absentee ballot security will remain a central focus in Michigan’s elections, with both parties claiming to be the true defenders of free and fair voting.
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