Challenges to Election Laws Filed in Michigan

A group of Michigan legislators has filed an appeal to challenge election laws put in place during the pandemic.

As we saw happen in other states, Democrats circumvented their state legislators to change election laws citing the pandemic as a reason for these “emergency” changes to make it “safer” to vote.

Now, eleven state legislators are claiming their constitutional rights have been violated due to these changes.

Dial It Back

Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution outlines how state legislatures can regulate elections.

In Michigan, amendments to the Michigan Constitution changed election laws without going through that process.

The initial lawsuit brought to challenge these changes in the laws was dismissed, claiming that these legislators did not have standing.

Rep. Steve Carra (R-MI) pushed back on that ruling, stating, “If I, as a legislator, don’t have standing to say election laws are being passed without legislature approval, then who does?

“The Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution protects legislative authority to determine the times, places, and manner of elections.”

State Senator Jonathan Lindsey added, “I disagree with the judge's decision to deny my right as a legislator to protect the role granted to me by the U.S. Constitution.

“When a federal judge misuses their power by denying a valid case to be heard, it damages our entire body politic. I am pleased we are appealing this decision.”

I tend to agree with them, as “standing” has been used far too often in these court cases regarding the election as a way for the court to avoid hearing the case.

If you recall, many of Trump’s challenges were dismissed for not having standing, which seemed utterly ridiculous to me considering he was the candidate in the race.

We have also seen the Supreme Court dismiss controversial cases for the same reason.

If these people do not have standing to file suit, then who does?