Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, wants Michigan communities to continue to accept millions of private dollars to help pay for elections.
The plaintiffs also allege that Benson permitted the illegal acquisition, and encouraged the use, of ballot containers (drop-boxes) that were unapproved, unsecure, and unmonitored, and that Benson violated the civil rights of Michigan citizens when she “enabled and encouraged a scheme favoring one group of voters over another.”
The suit alleges Benson violated election law and the state constitution by “allowing and encouraging election authorities to spend public funds for private partisan purposes.”
Benson’s attorneys argued that the complaint should be dismissed because the plaintiffs lack standing to bring suit and have failed to state a claim.
None of the parties to the litigation would comment on the pending case.
The report said that grants were distributed to nearly 2,500 local election departments spanning 49 states. The average grant was $5,000. The largest grant, $19 million, went to New York City.
Referring to the number of grants and not the actual amount of money distributed, the report said that over half the grants went to election departments serving fewer than 25,000 registered voters.
The report stated, “Partisan considerations played no role in the availability or awarding of funding…although many larger urban areas…required capital-intense investments.”
The report added, “As part of a disinformation campaign to undermine voter confidence, more than a dozen frivolous lawsuits have been filed to smear (the grant program),” noting that all the suits have thus far been rejected.