Michigan Government
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Michigan GOP canvassers under pressure to ignore votes, help Trump
Now that Wayne County has certified its election, activists want the state Board of Canvassers to refuse to certify the state’s election and allow lawmakers to award Michigan’s electors to Trump. It’s a long shot and may be illegal.
Wayne County changes course, certifies election as GOP members relent
After deadlocking earlier Tuesday, Michigan’s largest and most Democratic county switches course agrees to certify and audit its election. GOP canvassers had initially refused, citing unbalanced precincts, but agreed to a compromise amid withering criticism of disenfranchisement.
GOP leader: Michigan doesn’t need COVID mandates — or to impeach Gov. Whitmer
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says Republicans aren’t planning legislation to curb ‘runaway’ COVID-19 cases. But he says efforts to recall Gretchen Whitmer are a ‘distraction’
Joe Biden won, Michigan elector coup ‘not going to happen,’ GOP leader says
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says Democrat Joe Biden is the president-elect and the Legislature’s investigation of the election won’t change the results in Michigan.
As Trump lawsuit sputters, Michigan moves closer to certifying election
President Donald Trump has sued to stop certification of Michigan’s elections. But the case can’t proceed because his attorneys still haven’t taken the simple step of notifying state officials of the lawsuit.
Experts praise Michigan 3-week pause. Some in GOP mull Whitmer impeachment.
Health experts say other states should enact Michigan’s latest coronavirus restrictions, while a member of Donald Trump’s COVID task force calls on residents to resist and some conservative lawmakers float impeachment of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Michigan to close high schools, colleges, bars for 3 weeks as COVID spikes
A surge in the coronavirus in Michigan means another round of restrictions, including efforts to limit family gatherings for Thanksgiving.
Michigan counties wrapping up canvasses this week. That’s bad news for Trump.
Joe Biden likely will make a huge step toward making his Michigan win official this week, as the state’s 83 county boards of canvassers certify election results. Despite unproven claims of fraud, even Republicans say surprises are unlikely.
GOP leaders: We’ll abide by popular vote, won’t give Michigan to Trump
Donald Trump’s remote path to a second term is more narrow now that GOP lawmakers in Michigan say they won’t appoint the state’s 16 electors contrary to the popular vote. Trump’s best chance of carrying Michigan is now a long-shot court fight to erase 146,000 votes.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: COVID’s deadliest days in Michigan loom ahead
Just hours after Michigan hospital leaders urged the wearing of masks, the governor pleaded with residents to cancel large Thanksgiving and holiday plans and take urgent measures to prevent the virus’ spread.
Five suits now target Michigan’s election. One seeks to toss out 1.2M votes.
President Trump and his allies are peppering Michigan with suits to delay certification or dismiss votes — including one that would toss out all ballots in Wayne, Ingham and Washtenaw counties.
Trump: Dismiss Michigan votes GOP didn’t witness. Experts say that’s absurd.
President Trump’s legal strategy to thwart the Michigan election hinges on a claim that GOP challengers and poll workers were outnumbered and therefore votes they didn’t check shouldn’t count. It’s an argument that not only would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters, but is dangerous to democracy, foes say.
Biden win in Kent County latest evidence of region’s demographic shifts
The Grand Rapids area helped fuel Kent’s economic resurgence by attracting young, well-educated professionals. Younger workers and an influx of Hispanic reEsidents are making the county more politically diverse.
Four partisans must certify Michigan’s election. One makes no promises.
A majority on the Board of State Canvassers — which consists of two Democrats and two Republicans — must vote to certify Michigan’s election. One GOP member, whose wife was a poll challenger in Detroit, offers no guarantees. “What prevents people from cheating?” he asks.
Dead ‘voter’ cited in Trump lawsuit never cast ballot, Michigan records show
Republican President Donald Trump's new federal lawsuit seeking to delay certification of Michigan election results includes an affidavit from a mother who claims her dead son voted. In fact, that’s a case of mistaken identity, according to the Department of State.
GOP clerk’s typo in Michigan fuels false ‘vote dumping’ claims
One week after the election, untrue claims about an extra 138,000 votes for Joe Biden in Shiawassee County still persist — and are being cited in fundraising emails — even though election officials say the mistake was corrected within minutes.
Sharpies didn’t ruin ballots in Michigan. In fact, they’re often preferred
False claims about ballots spoiled by markers fester in Michigan, even though they have been discounted by elections officials and Republican officials. ‘The felt-tip markers versus ballpoint pen controversy” is ‘not true,’ one top GOP lawmaker says.
Meet Michigan’s ‘dead’ voters. They’re quite alive, despite false fraud claims
President Trump’s supporters are claiming hundreds of Michigan dead voters cast ballots last week. In fact, most assertions arise from typographical errors such as clerks entering placeholder birthdates.
Joe Biden is president-elect. Here’s what has to happen before he’s sworn in
The Democratic former vice president has enough electoral votes to become 46th president. But 83 counties need to be canvassed and Michigan’s 16 electors still need to cast their votes before he is sworn in.
Michigan deeply divided over race, education, geography and news feeds
Divisions in our state go beyond who we supported for president. Voters say we are increasingly separated by political tribes, what we see on social media and what lessons we took from police protests.