Michigan Covid Legal Information
We drew these resources principally from Justin Levitt's list of COVID-19 election cases, Standford-MIT Healthy Elections Project COVID-Related Election Litigation Tracker, and the National Center for State Legislatures' COVID-19 and 2020 Primary Elections page.
Litigation Tracker
- Esshaki v. Whitmer
- Beard v. Whitmer
- Powell v. Benson
- SawariMedia LLC v. Whitmer
- League of Women Voters of Michigan v. Benson
- Fair and Equal Michigan v. Benson
- Black v. Benson
- Cooper-Keel v. Benson
- Davis v. Benson
- Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans v. Benson
- Kishore v. Whitmer
- Davis v. Wayne County Election Commission
- Jobs for Downriver v. Whitmer
- Reed-Pratt v. Winfrey
- Davis v. Benson
- Eason v. Whitmer
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Esshaki v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Granted, Affirmed in Part 5/5
Date Filed
31/03/2020
Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Description
Challenge to deadline and signature requirements for candidates to appear on the ballot.
Links
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Beard v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Pending
Date Filed
03/04/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to filing requirements and deadline for candidates to appear on the ballot.
Links
-
Powell v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Settled 5/19
Date Filed
28/04/2020
Court
U.S.District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan"
Description
Request to require independent method of absentee voting which does not violate ADA and PDCRA.
Links
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SawariMedia LLC v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements; Initiatives
Status
Preliminary Injunction Granted 6/11, Voluntarily Dismissed 7/23
Date Filed
04/05/2020
Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Description
Challenge to deadline and signature requirements for initiatives to appear on the ballot.
Links
-
League of Women Voters of Michigan v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Petition Accepted 6/3; Mandamus Denied 7/14
Date Filed
22/05/2020
Court
Michigan Supreme Court
Description
Challenge to enforcement of absentee ballot statutes.
Links
-
Fair and Equal Michigan v. Benson
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Granted in Part 6/10
Date Filed
26/05/2020
Court
Michigan Court of Claims
Description
Challenge to signature requirements and filing deadlines for petitions.
Links
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Black v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 6/18
Date Filed
26/05/2020
Court
Michigan Court of Claims
Description
Challenge to Secretary of State's authority to mail all registered voters absentee ballots.
Links
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Cooper-Keel v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 6/18
Date Filed
28/05/2020
Court
Michigan Court of Claims
Description
Challenge to Secretary of State's authority to mail all registered voters absentee ballots.
Links
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Davis v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 6/18
Date Filed
28/05/2020
Court
Michigan Court of Claims
Description
Challenge to Secretary of State's authority to mail all registered voters absentee ballots.
Links
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Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Pending
Date Filed
02/06/2020
Court
Michigan Court of Claims
Description
Challenge to ballot receipt deadline, postage requirement, and voter assistance ban.
Links
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Kishore v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 7/8
Date Filed
18/06/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to ballot access requirements for candidates.
Links
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Davis v. Wayne County Election Commission
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Pending
Date Filed
06/07/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to a candidate's certification to appear on the ballot despite allegations that the candidate failed to file multiple campaign finance reports/statements required by state law.
Links
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Jobs for Downriver v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Dismissed on 8/25
Date Filed
05/08/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to petition signature requirements and petition submission deadlines.
Links
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Reed-Pratt v. Winfrey
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Pending
Date Filed
09/08/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to unsolicited absentee voter applications.
Links
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Davis v. Benson
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Pending
Date Filed
14/08/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to unsolicited absentee voter applications.
Links
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Eason v. Whitmer
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Pending
Date Filed
19/08/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Description
Challenge to petition signature requirements and petition submission deadlines.
Links
Executive Actions
-
Executive Order No. 2020-27
Topics
Absentee Voting
Date Filed
27/03/2020
Description
Michigan's Governor issued an executive order implementing multiple changes to the state's election laws, including ordering that the May 5 primary be conducted by absentee voting to the greatest extent possible.
Links
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Benson: All voters receiving applications to vote by mail
Topics
Absentee Voting
Date Filed
19/05/2020
Description
Michigan’s Secretary of State will mail all voters an absentee ballot application for elections in August and November.
Links