RNC sues Michigan secretary of state over absentee voting rules in election integrity case

The Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit Thursday against Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, claiming that she covertly tried to evade the state’s absentee voting protections. 

The RNC alleged that Benson gave secret instructions to Michigan election officials telling them they must presume whether an absentee voter’s signature is valid ahead of the state’s presidential primary in February. Benson’s actions are in violation of the state’s constitution, according to the committee’s lawsuit. 

“Speculation, however, is incompatible with verification,” the lawsuit stated. “Requiring election officials to approve signatures with discrepancies based on mere speculation is completely inconsistent with the Michigan Constitution and the Michigan Election Law.”

Michigan’s constitution requires election officials to verify absentee ballot voters’ signatures by looking at their signatures on their registration records. If the signatures do not match, election officials have to notify the voter and give them enough time to correct the issue before their vote can be counted. 

“Jocelyn Benson is yet again working to undermine election integrity by secretly instructing officials to disregard and circumvent these clear requirements,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. “The RNC is suing Benson because Michiganders deserve election integrity, not underhanded Democrat schemes.” 

The Washington Examiner reached out to Benson for comment.

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The RNC filed a separate lawsuit against Benson earlier this month, which argued that the state’s voter registration rolls are inaccurate and that Benson needed to take steps to review them. In the suit, the RNC claimed that 53 of the swing state’s 83 counties had more actively registered voters than there were residents. 

The RNC’s legal challenges against Benson come as Republicans ask swing states to crack down on election rules and restrictions ahead of the November election. Michigan, a key battleground state, could have a significant impact on determining the outcome of the 2024 election. Currently, former President Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden in Michigan by 3.5 points, per a RealClearPolitics polling average.