Republican leaders in Lansing are still waiting to hear whether a federal appeals court will review Michigan’s ban on straight-ticket voting.
With no word from the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati Wednesday, Michigan’s ban on straight-ticket voting remains unenforceable. Earlier decisions said the ban violates the rights of minority voters in big cities where long lines can be a problem on Election Day.
Fred Woodhams is a spokesman for the state Bureau of Elections. He says elections officials hope the court does do something, it’s soon. He says, while there are deadlines for getting ballots finalized, there are no deadlines for the court.
“The legal requirement is to have the ballot certified by September 9th, but certainly federal judges have a great amount of discretion.”
Woodhams says, if there is a court ruling after the deadline, the state will find a way to deal with it.
(Michigan Public Radio Network)
