A problem with filing paperwork is disqualifying a handful of Republican and Democratic candidates from Michigan’s August primary ballot.
The Michigan Department of State is barring most of those candidates for issues like outstanding fees, fines, and reports at the time of submitting their “affidavit of identity.”
That’s a form that requires candidates to verify those problems had been taken care of.
Affected Republican state Senate candidate Mellissa Carone says she had asked for help when filing after a previous House run was disqualified. “They went through all of my financials with me, they knew the circumstances because I kept them very up to date with what was going on,” she says.
The state says Michigan law prevents candidates from appearing on the ballot in an election cycle once they’ve submitted false statements on their affidavit.