Due to COVID-19, there is likely to be a record number of mail-in votes in the upcoming presidential election. | Wikimedia Commons
Due to COVID-19, there is likely to be a record number of mail-in votes in the upcoming presidential election. | Wikimedia Commons
Michigan Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township) issued a statement early in October on the court's decision to intervene in a case having to do with voting deadlines and regulations related to absentee ballots, according to Michigan House Republicans.
Bollin confirmed that the court was correct to intervene in the case and that the regulations in place for Election Day are clear. She asserted that a ruling by Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens in September is in conflict with state voting laws, which say that absentee ballots must arrive by 8pm on election day. State voting laws also put in place regulations meant to prevent ballot harvesting, which is becoming an increasingly common problem.
Bollin argues that, even though there is an ongoing global pandemic, the laws pertaining to these rules should not be changed, nor should a judge take it upon herself to change the laws to accommodate for this event. After a failure of action by both the Michigan attorney general's office and the secretary of state, Bollin says she is pleased that the Legislature decided to step in and uphold the integrity of the state constitution.
Rep. Ann Bollin
| Michigan House Republicans
She stated a willingness to continue to challenge the ruling and do whatever is necessary to ensure that the state constitution is not infringed upon on behalf of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after several groups around the state and country argue that, with the extraordinary circumstances that this election finds itself under, more flexibility should be put in place with regards to voting rules.
Bollin and her Republican colleagues contend that there are already adequate procedures in place to help citizens vote safely, and the rules of the election should not be changed further.
“Now that the Legislature has been granted the ability to intervene, we will continue fighting for fair and secure elections administered within the law by appealing these injunctions through the Court of Appeals," Bollin said, according to Michigan House Republicans.
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