Photo credit: abcnews.go.com
Federal Court Dismisses RNC Lawsuit in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — A federal district court in Michigan has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at voter registration records, marking another setback for the Republican National Committee (RNC) in their attempts to scrutinize the electoral process in this pivotal state.
The lawsuit, led by RNC officials, targeted Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater, arguing that they had not adequately maintained accurate voter registration records. However, U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering concluded that the plaintiffs failed to present sufficient evidence to support their claims and lacked the necessary legal standing.
In a related development earlier this week, a Michigan state judge also rejected a petition from the RNC seeking to invalidate ballots from specific overseas and military voters.
In their original complaint filed in March, the RNC claimed that Michigan had a higher number of registered voters than eligible citizens, a statement that has been criticized for misrepresenting statistical data. This assertion was also recently highlighted by Elon Musk, who has become a controversial figure in discussions surrounding election integrity. The RNC’s argument centered on allegations that the state neglected to purge ineligible individuals from voter rolls, thereby violating the National Voting Rights Act.
However, the court found the Republicans’ claims unconvincing, noting that they did not demonstrate any specific instances of ineligible voters being included on Michigan’s active voter list. This ruling underscores the importance of presenting concrete evidence in legal challenges.
The RNC has yet to provide a comment regarding the court’s decision, which could reflect ongoing strategic deliberations within the party.
While Michigan does report a greater number of total registered voters compared to eligible citizens, it is important to note that this total includes individuals who have become inactive yet cannot be removed from rolls due to existing state and federal regulations.
Federal law stipulates that voters may not be removed from registration lists until a minimum of two general elections have taken place after they have failed to respond to an official notice. The Secretary of State’s office has indicated more than 550,000 registered voters who are currently slated for removal in 2025 or 2027.
In response to the lawsuit, Benson stated, “False and meritless claims — whether they are posted on social media or in legal filings — won’t stand up in court. That’s where evidence, the law, and facts rule the day.”
The RNC’s legal actions are part of a larger pattern seen across several states, where Republican leaders are seeking to raise questions about voter registration processes as they prepare for the 2024 elections. This trend reflects ongoing narratives concerning electoral integrity, particularly as figures like Trump continue to assert unfounded claims of election-related misconduct.
Source
abcnews.go.com