Federal judge overturns Michigan's ballot access rule for independent candidates

A federal judge on Sunday overturned state law governing independent candidates’ access to the ballot and lowered the signature threshold for qualification in 2020.

Judge Victoria Roberts of the Eastern District of Michigan ruled that the state’s ballot access requirements were “severely burdensome” to Christopher Graveline, other independent candidates seeking statewide office and voters who wished to vote for them.

Federal judge overturns Michigan's ballot access rule for independent candidates 636676820487813631-Screenshot-101-

Federal judge overturns Michigan's ballot access rule for independent candidates 636676820487813631-Screenshot-101-

She granted Graveline, who ran for state attorney general last year, a permanent injunction that lowers the signature threshold for future independent candidates seeking state office in Michigan.

The set of rules governing the number of signatures, where they’re gathered and when they are submitted is unconstitutional, Roberts said in her Sunday opinion.

Until the Legislature draws up new rules, she said, an independent candidate for statewide office can qualify with just 12,000 signatures instead of 30,000.

“That no independent candidate for statewide office has ever satisfied Michigan’s current statutory scheme to qualify for the ballot demonstrates ‘the regulations impose a severe burden that has impeded ballot access,’” wrote Roberts, an appointee of Democratic former President Bill Clinton.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/23/federal-judge-overturns-michigans-ballot-access-law-independents/2732742001/

Federal judge overturns Michigan's ballot access rule for independent candidates

Federal judge overturns Michigan's ballot access rule for independent candidates

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