Michigan’s absentee ballot policies are facing scrutiny as the Republican National Committee (RNC) files a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The lawsuit, submitted on Tuesday, challenges Benson’s absentee ballot guidelines, arguing they could lead to improper ballot handling before the 2024 presidential election.
The RNC claims that Benson’s February 2024 guidance does not adequately protect election integrity, specifically citing the lack of robust signature verification for absentee ballots. Under Michigan law, absentee ballots must include verified signatures before being approved, but the RNC argues that Benson’s guidelines fall short.
According to RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, Benson’s policies would “undermine protections for absentee voters” by allowing ballots to be processed without proper verification. The lawsuit aims to block these rules from being implemented ahead of November’s presidential election, which is expected to be closely contested in Michigan.
One key example in the complaint involves absentee ballots from the August 2024 primary in Warren, Michigan. The RNC alleges that thousands of ballots were counted without proper verification, and they fear this could repeat during the presidential election.
Michigan is considered a critical battleground state, and election integrity is a top priority for Republicans. The RNC has intensified its legal efforts in key states to ensure absentee voting follows strict guidelines.
