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Court: Ballots that arrive after 8 pm Election Day won’t be counted

Courtesy courts.michigan.gov

The Michigan League of Women Voters plans to challenge restrictions that will make it more difficult for people to vote absentee. That’s after the league lost a decision by the state Court of Appeals.

In 2018 voters passed an initiative to allow no-reason absentee voting. But the Republican-controlled Legislature added restrictions that include disqualifying any mail-in ballot that does not arrive by 8 pm on Election Day.

Christina Schlitt is with the League of Women Voters. She says any ballot postmarked by Election Day – regardless of when it arrives at a clerk’s office -- should be counted.

“Well the league is planning to appeal the court’s decision to prevent the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters in the upcoming elections,” said Schlitt.

Schlitt says she hopes the state Supreme Court will take the case and make a decision in time to settle the question before the August primaries.