{"id":2057124,"date":"2023-10-05T19:04:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T23:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/popular-election-administration-amendments-to-the-michigan-constitution-face-court-challenge\/"},"modified":"2023-10-05T19:08:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T23:08:22","slug":"popular-election-administration-amendments-to-the-michigan-constitution-face-court-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/popular-election-administration-amendments-to-the-michigan-constitution-face-court-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan&#8217;s popular election administration amendments face a court challenge."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpopular-election-administration-amendments-to-the-michigan-constitution-face-court-challenge%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2057124&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>Eleven Republican state legislators \u2064have\u200b filed\u200d a lawsuit in Michigan, seeking to invalidate two amendments to \u2062the state constitution related to election procedures in federal elections. They argue that these \u2064amendments were passed\u200c without the\u200c approval of the legislature,\u200b violating \u2062their rights\u200d as specified in the \u200dU.S. Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>The legislators claim that the\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/popular-election-administration-amendments-to-the-michigan-constitution-face-court-challenge\/\" title=\"Michigan's popular election administration amendments face a court challenge.\">petition-ballot initiative process outlined<\/a> in the Michigan Constitution undermines their legislative powers granted by the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. \u2062This \u2063clause \u200cstates that the &#8220;Times, Places, and \u200bManner of holding \u200bElections for Senators\u200b and Representatives shall be prescribed in\u2062 each State \u200dby \u200cthe Legislature thereof.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/election-reform-ballot-proposal-sparks-opposition-in-michigan-4819743?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Election Reform Ballot Proposal Sparks Opposition in Michigan<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 10\/25\/2022<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/benson-loses-round-in-fight-over-dead-people-on-michigan-voter-rolls-4692255?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Michigan \u2063Secretary of State Loses \u2064Round in \u200cFight Over Dead People on Voter Rolls<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 8\/26\/2022<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The\u200d amendments in question were initiated\u2063 through citizen petitions \u2064in 2018 and 2022. Despite concerns from Republicans about the\u2064 vague wording and potential impact on election integrity, both proposals received over\u2063 60 percent of the popular\u200c vote \u2063and were passed.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, \u2064the Board of State Canvassers initially blocked one of the proposals from appearing \u2062on the ballot\u2062 due to concerns about misleading language. However, the\u2062 Michigan Supreme Court later \u200bruled\u200c that it should be included.<\/p>\n<p>The amendments grant various rights to\u2064 voters, including automatic registration, shorter residency\u2062 requirements, election-day registration, and no-reason absentee voting.\u2064 They also provide \u2062for extended office hours, straight-party voting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kari-lake-attorneys-file-state-supreme-court-response-to-disingenuous-maricopa-county-claims\/\" title=\"Kari Lake Attorneys File State Supreme Court Response to \u2018Disingenuous\u2019 Maricopa County Claims\">secure drop-boxes<\/a>, and pre-paid postage for absentee ballots.<\/p>\n<p>The legislators \u2062argue that these amendments infringe upon their constitutional authority\u2062 to regulate federal elections. They believe that \u2062the exclusive duty of\u200b the legislature should not\u200b be circumvented or \u200busurped.<\/p>\n<p>The plaintiffs are concerned about the potential consequences \u200cof disregarding the rule of law\u2062 and the long-term impact on America&#8217;s\u200c constitutional republic. They emphasize the need to protect the Constitution and prevent future\u2062 encroachments on legislative \u200dpowers.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200dlawsuit \u2064names Michigan\u200b Governor\u200d Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and \u2064the director of the Michigan\u200c Bureau of Elections as defendants. The plaintiffs seek an injunction to prevent the enforcement of the\u2062 amendments and any taxpayer funding related to them.<\/p>\n<p>Constitutional lawyers representing the plaintiffs argue that the\u2064 belated actions of the legislature to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-wire-supreme-court-upholds-texas-pro-life-law-chinas-presence-in-afghanistan-florida-withholds-salaries-from-school-board-members\/\" title=\"Morning Wire: Supreme Court Upholds Texas Pro-Life Law, China\u2019s Presence In Afghanistan, Florida Withholds Salaries From School Board Members\">pass similar laws<\/a> do not rectify the violation that occurred. They believe that the\u200b invalid amendments must be removed from the Michigan Constitution to uphold the\u200c rule of\u2064 law.<\/p>\n<p>A favorable ruling in this case could have broader implications, potentially inspiring similar challenges in other states \u2062and prompting a \u200creevaluation \u2062of election\u2064 practices governed by secretaries of state and \u200belection administrators without legislative approval.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the \u2063laws enacted by the \u200cstate legislature are subject to the governor&#8217;s veto and must comply with \u2064federal legislation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What concerns were raised by the PAA \u200brelated\u2063 to the clarity and potential impact of the amendment?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Sals from \u200dappearing on the ballot, citing \u2063concerns over the clarity \u200dand potential \u200dimpact of the amendment. However, the Michigan \u200bCourt of Appeals overturned the decision, stating that the board did not\u2063 have the \u2063authority to prevent\u200b the \u200bproposal from proceeding.<\/p>\n<p>The first amendment\u200d in question, passed in 2018, establishes automatic voter registration when applying for a driver&#8217;s license or state identification card. It also allows for same<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-state-lawmakers-to-introduce-new-bills-to-limit-vote-by-mail-require-photo-id-to-vote-clean-dirty-voter-rolls\/\" title=\"Republican State Lawmakers to Introduce New Bills to Limit Vote-by-Mail, Require Photo ID to Vote, Clean Dirty Voter Rolls\">-day voter registration<\/a> and no-excuse absentee voting. The second amendment, passed in 2022, requires audits \u200dof election results \u2063and strengthens the penalties for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnns-cooper-reported-trump-draft-order-to-seize-voting-machines-is-batsh-t\/\" title=\"CNN's Cooper: Reported Trump Draft Order to Seize Voting Machines Is 'Batsh-t'\">election-related crimes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican legislators argue that these amendments were essentially legislating from the\u2062 ballot box, bypassing the \u200dtraditional\u200d legislative process. They\u200b claim that this\u2062 undermines the balance \u200cof\u200c power and infringes on their authority as elected representatives. They argue \u200cthat the U.S. Constitution gives the power to regulate elections to the state legislature, \u200bnot to the citizens through petition initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit \u200bargues that the amendments should be invalidated\u200d because they were not passed by the legislature itself.\u200c The legislators contend that the citizen-initiated petition process contradicts the Elections Clause of the\u2062 U.S. Constitution, which explicitly grants this power\u200b to the state legislature.\u200b They \u2062argue that the citizens&#8217; right to petition does not supersede the authority of the legislature in matters\u2064 of election regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of the lawsuit argue that the citizen \u200cpetition\u2064 process is \u200ban essential tool for direct democracy, allowing citizens to have\u200b a say in shaping their government. They claim that the amendments were passed through a legitimate and \u2064democratic process, with the\u200c support of a majority of voters. They argue that invalidating the amendments\u200d would undermine the will of the people and hinder efforts to improve election procedures and expand access to voting.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome \u2064of\u2064 this lawsuit \u2062could\u200d have significant implications for the future of citizen-initiated petitions and the power of the state legislature in shaping election procedures. If the lawsuit is successful, it could limit the ability of citizens \u2062to directly influence election laws and regulations through the\u200b petition\u2062 process.\u2062 On \u200dthe other hand, if the lawsuit is dismissed, it could affirm the authority of citizens to \u200binitiate changes to the constitution through popular \u2064vote.<\/p>\n<p>The case highlights the ongoing debate over the role of citizens and the state legislature in shaping election procedures. It raises important questions \u200dabout\u2063 the balance of power and the extent to which citizens can directly participate in \u2063the democratic process. Ultimately, the courts will have to determine whether \u200dthe\u2063 citizen-initiated amendments in Michigan are in violation of the U.S. Constitution and whether they should be invalidated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eleven GOP lawmakers seek federal court ruling in Michigan, claiming two amendments on election procedures in federal polls are void. They argue that the legislature didn&#8217;t approve the provisions before the referendums. The crucial question remains: are these amendments valid and enforceable?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":369,"featured_media":2057125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2057124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/369"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2057124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2057125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2057124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2057124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2057124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}