...Michigans secretary of State said its too early to say whether she would appeal a judges ruling Friday that placed Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) back on the Democratic primary ballot. A decision by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Leitman overturned rulings by the Michigan Secretary Ruth Johnson and the Wayne County Election Commission that prevented Conyers from getting on the August ballot because of a lack of valid petition signatures. The judge noted that he hurried to file the injunction Friday to give all parties time to appeal, if necessary, to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals before the June 6 deadline to certify the ballot... ...More than 600 petition signatures for Conyers had been deemed invalid by the county clerk, with whom the secretary of State agreed, because they were gathered by people who were not registered in Michigan, required by state law. That left Conyers shy of the 1,000 petition signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. But the judge ruled the law was likely unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds, asserting it was not narrowly tailored. The previously invalidated signatures would send Conyerss total above 1,000. Plaintiffs here have shown a substantial likelihood of success, he wrote, adding, The State’s interest in combating election fraud is compelling, but the State may protect that interest through a less restrictive means....
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 17:23:55 +0000
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