Updates About Elections

On Monday, November 7th, Wayne Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny dismissed a lawsuit from Kristina Karamo – the GOP Secretary of State candidate – requesting to change Detroit’s absentee voting processes ahead of the November 8 general election.

Judge Kenny wrote in his dissenting opinion that there was insufficient evidence to Karamo’s claims of election law violations in Detroit. The court could not single out one community in the state for a case that “did not provide evidence in any of the 12 alleged election code violations” (Docket No. 22-012759).

The suit, upon its filing, asked the court to require the city only to count absentee ballots submitted in person. However, the plaintiffs tried to change the nature of their wording after the fact. The plaintiffs specifically sought an injunction to require the Detroit clerk’s office to comply with election law by validating signatures on absentee ballots.

Judge Kenny dismissed the lawsuit as moot, claiming that the request for relief in future elections means there is no present claim before the court. He also made it clear that the plaintiff’s complaints were untimely and would potentially disenfranchise tens of thousands of Detroiters in the November 8, 2022, general election.

For the first time in almost 40 years, the Michigan State House of Representatives, Senate, and Executive Branch will all be controlled by the Democratic Party. Governor Gretchen Whitmer will be reelected for another four-year term after beating her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon. Whitmer won with almost 55% of the vote. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel also won their reelections against Republicans Kristina Karamo and Matt DePerno, respectively.

In the House, Democrats will have the majority for the first time in 12 years, holding 56 seats. Republicans will hold 54 seats in the chamber. Senate Democrats will have a 20 to 18 majority, controlling the chamber for the first time in 38 years.

Democrats also saw major wins in all statewide education posts. This includes the State Board of Education, Michigan State University Board of Trustees, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University.

Michigan set a new record in voter turnout for a midterm election with 4.4 million voters showing up to the polls on November 8. Of this total, 1.8 million were absentee voters. Michigan’s previous record was 4.3 million voters that showed up in the 2018 midterm elections.

According to multiple political pundits, the high voter turnout was in part due to Proposal Three, an initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in Michigan’s constitution. Prop Three passed with 55 percent of the vote. Proposal One, which creates new term limits and financial disclosure requirements, and Proposal Two, which enshrines the right to vote, among other things, passed with 65 percent and 58 percent of the vote, respectively.

Election results are not yet official as county boards have until November 22 to verify election results. Similarly, the Board of State Canvassers has until November 28 to certify results.

Michigan’s November 8 General Election is quickly approaching, and the Secretary of State is urging the approximately one million voters that requested absentee ballots, but have not yet voted, to hand-deliver their ballots to the clerk’s office or ballot box to avoid postal delays. Ballots must be received by the clerk no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Clerk’s offices and ballot box locations can be found here.

Residents not yet registered to vote can do so in person at a clerk’s office, since online and mail registration has closed. Michiganders also have the ability to register to vote at the time of voting on November 8.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day, and voters who are in line by 8 p.m. but have not yet cast their ballot are encouraged to wait. If you are interested in working on election day as a poll worker, voters are encouraged to apply here.