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

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

    Order Text

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

    Text

  • 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

    Text

Legislative Actions