Posted on 05/24/2014 8:44:45 PM PDT by smoothsailing
May 24, 2014
Michigan's secretary of State said it's too early to say whether she would appeal a judge's 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.
“It’s too early to comment," spokeswoman for the secretary of State Gisgie Gendreau told the Detroit Free Press.
"We’ve received the judge’s order, but will have to review it with our attorneys before we decide how to proceed. What I can tell you is that the secretary is sworn to uphold the law, and that’s what she has done in this case and will continue to do.”
Conyers primary opponent Rev. Horace Sheffield III, who first challenged the petition signatures, said attorneys were reviewing the order.
“What we’re going to do is let the attorneys look at it ..., but it doesn’t stop anything as far as our approach to the campaign. We’re moving forward," campaign manager Rick Jones told the Detroit News.
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 Conyers's 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."
Conyers's campaign chair Bert Johnson, a Michigan state senator, told The Hill on Friday, "We hope this is the end of it because it is the right and fair decision," but noted others have the right to appeal.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Leitman needs to have an unforgettably HORRIBLE day.
I heard that in an earlier election that a white candidate had the same problem as Conyers - he was denied ballot status ...
In the back of my mind, I think this has to do with voters not being registered yet still voting....
"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."
Is it really that difficult in Michigan to find registered voters who need a temporary job that might be enticed to circulate petitions?
I sure hope so
Unfortunately, the states just don't get it. They are no longer states, but mere provinces of the federal government. They can do only what federal judges and federal agencies deem appropriate.
And that will not change until there is a specific constitutional amendment to correct it.
This must be overturned.
-PJ
Have they ever kept anyone off the ballot in the past for invalidated signatures?
Or did they just notice now that they dont want to follow that law?
Have they ever kept anyone off the ballot in the past for invalidated signatures?
Or did they just notice now that they dont want to follow that law?
Oh, they could spell it “Kawnyurs” and their votes would be accepted. Look at how Murkowski’s write-in was handled.
Sound familiar?
I'm glad someone else here remembers history and notes the familiar.
America has no clue what has already happened to it.
Normalcy Bias - and we have a fatal case of it.
There will be no redress for the *legitimate* grievances of the *law abiding* people in the courts, nor at the ballot box. Not going to happen.
Internet voting IS coming. Completing the transformation from Republic to corrupt Idiocracy.
Exactly what Rush Limbaugh predicted would happen.
The dems always find a way to CHEAT (a judge willing to overstep his authority), in order to put somebody back in office so they can continue to fleece the public.
I hope somebody appeals this erroneous ruling, and throws Conyers out.
To project what they think is power over the states.
Of course, it must be remembered that last election cycle no one liked it when the Republican Party of Virginia stuck by the rules and kept some candidates off the state’s presidential primary ballot because they didn’t have enough valid signatures.
Naw, they can bow down to blind, retired Family Court judges too.
Laws are for little people.
Rep. John Conyers is a democrat.
Just like they did in New Jersey to illegally allow Lautenberg to run this maggot Conyers will be allowed on the ticket by a judge that should be in jail.
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