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U.S. Representative Jack Bergman and State Representative Greg Markkanen believe all our votes in the November election should be thrown out.
The two Republican lawmakers have gone on record supporting the lawsuit filed with the U.S. Supreme Court by the State of Texas, asking that election results in Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania be nullified.
Three other Michigan Republican congressmen and 11 other Michigan Republican state legislators also signed the amicus brief, which was filed yesterday with the Supreme Court.
In a statement yesterday, Bergman said the brief “outline(s) multiple occasions where the state of Michigan – specifically the Secretary of State – subverted Michigan election law and constitutional precedent.”
Unlike previous lawsuits challenging the election result in Michigan, the amicus brief includes no allegations of fraud. Instead, it alleges that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson exceeded her authority when she sent absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in the state, and made the absentee ballot application available to all citizens on the state website.
Michigan law does state that application may be made “On an absent voter ballot application form provided for that purpose by the clerk of the city or township.” It does not address provision of an application from another source. It also says that absentee ballots may be requested “By a written request signed by the voter,” which could be construed to include an actual application form received from another source.
Benson’s mass mailing of absentee ballot applications was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals in September.
The brief also accuses Wayne County officials of not following proper inspection and security procedures while counting ballots. Similar allegations have been thrown out in previous lawsuits.
See the amicus brief here.
See the relevant Michigan election law here.
In filings with the Supreme Court yesterday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote, “The election in Michigan is over. Texas comes as a stranger to this matter and should not be heard here.” Officials in Pennsylvania called the action “seditious.”
