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Citizens cannot do their job of running their government if they don’t know what their public servants are doing. Bridge will take you beyond the political food fights into the policy decisions that affect everyday life.
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Leelanau condemned the N-word, but the fight over racism had just begun
Like the rest of the nation, northern Michigan began a reckoning on race after George Floyd’s death in May. Then, a Leelanau County road commissioner’s racist outburst made it an undeniably local issue.
After ACLU lawsuit, Detroit City Clerk rushes ballots to voters
Thousands of Detroit absentee ballot applications were not processed by the Detroit City Clerk’s office on time. Now, the elections office must respond within 24 hours and is overnighting ballots to voters.
Michigan COVID surge thins poll worker ranks, prompting fears of vote delays
Staff shortages could lengthen voting lines or slow an absentee ballot counting effort, but Michigan officials say there’s no need to panic because clerks and the state have spent weeks recruiting reserve workers.
Trump called. They answered. GOP army ready to challenge Michigan vote.
Hundreds of poll challengers are ready to scrutinize ballots in Detroit and other cities on Nov. 3. They say they’re motivated by patriotism. Foes say their goal is to depress turnout in Democratic cities.
Biden, Obama, Trump plan more visits as Michigan reprises battleground role
President Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama plan weekend visits before Tuesday’s election. That begs the question: Is Michigan closer than the polls suggest?
Oakland County ‘ground zero’ in fight for control of Michigan House
Republicans need to hold onto four contested seats to retain control of the state House. Democrats, hopeful for a blue wave, are pushing hard to swing control of the chamber for the first time in a decade.
Joe Biden leads Donald Trump in Michigan polls. Will they be wrong again?
Trust in polls has eroded since Donald Trump came from behind in 2016 to win the presidential election. Michigan pollsters say they got a bad rap, but they’ve still made changes like contacting more cellphone users.
Five things you missed not standing in the rain with Donald Trump
The president’s stop in Lansing Tuesday touched on the auto industry, COVID-19, refugee policy and more. He recounted his hard-to-pin-down Man of the Year honors and expressed his love for women.
Judge: Michigan can’t ban open carry guns on Election Day
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s attempt to ban openly carried weapons at Michigan polling places on Election Day is “likely unlawful” and cannot be enforced, Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray ruled Tuesday evening.
What Michigan should know about Proposal 2 to require warrants for digital data
Proposal 2 would require police to obtain warrants to obtain info from cellphones, the digital cloud. Police and civil-rights groups back the measure; critics question whether it’s necessary.
Michigan has 1M unreturned absentee ballots. And mail delays are common.
State officials are urging residents to return ballots to clerks or in drop boxes if they want them to count by Tuesday.
Demystifying Michigan elections: What happens to ballots after you vote?
In a season of intense scrutiny over the security of voting, Bridge Michigan is presenting a step-by-step process for counting in-person and absentee ballots.
Joe Biden is favored to win Michigan but can he build a Democratic wave?
Joe Biden has a significant lead in Michigan polls. But so did Hillary Clinton in 2016. Democrats warn the race may be closer than it appears, but also hope Biden can help candidates down the ballot.
How Donald Trump can come from behind and win Michigan
President Donald Trump is down in the polls in the runup to Michigan’s must-win presidential election, but he’s been here before. Four years after his win here, Trump is barnstorming the state in an attempt to re-create the magic. Don’t count him out, experts say.
Liberal groups bury Michigan with mail shaming people to vote. Many hate it.
Called “peer pressure in an envelope,” mailings to people of color, young voters and others intend to increase turnout. Some voters find the messages “creepy,” and clerks are inundated with complaints. But the mailings continue because they work, organizers say.
Fact Squad | Junge ad hits Slotkin on immigrants, taxes, omits a few details
A new ad from the Paul Junge campaign attacks U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s record on stimulus and payroll tax. It’s built on two indisputable facts but could give viewers the false impression the Holly Democrat did little to help the state during the COVID-19 crisis.
Where Michigan candidates for Senate, Congress stand on health care, ACA
The Affordable Care Act and pre-existing conditions are a defining issue in the Nov. 3 election. From president to Congress, here are the views of candidates on Michigan’s ballot.
Michigan gun groups sue Benson to open carry at election polling sites
Gun rights groups say Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s new ban on openly carried weapons at Election Day polling places unfairly punishes residents who want “to exercise both their 2nd Amendment right to self-protection and their fundamental right to vote.”
Michigan voting 2020: masks, guns, ID, straight ticket, what you should know
Do you need to show ID at the polls? Wear a mask? Can I bring a gun? Vote straight ticket? You have questions. We have answers. Bridge dives into some of your concerns ahead of Election Day.
Citing potential fraud, court reinstates Michigan ban on paid voter transport
The court ruling is a blow to Democrats planning to hire buses to the polls, and also bars Uber and other companies from providing free rides on Election Day. Two GOP-appointed judges sided with Michigan Republicans in the case.