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Lawsuit challenges mask, distance rules for poll workers

"Michigan's Hall of Justice" by joeldinda is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

A lawsuit filed with the Michigan Court of Claims challenges Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Election Day instructions to poll watchers. The lawsuit says Benson’s COVID-19 distancing rules will make it too hard for poll challengers to keep track of what’s happening.

Election Day approaches next week amid a cyclone of litigation.

One of the plaintiffs in this case is a Republican state House candidate. Another was an August primary poll watcher. Attorney Matthew Gronda says polling place restrictions make it impossible for poll watchers to do their jobs. 

“The vast majority of what it is they’re supposed to be doing, they just can’t do.”

“The lawsuit is really nothing more than an effort to gain media attention and falsely attack the integrity of Michigan’s elections.”

Secretary of State spokesman Jake Rollow says the lawsuit is an empty complaint that mischaracterizes the directives. He says the rules still allow poll watchers to make sure voters are registered and are who they say they are.