Residents took part in early voting at a community center in Detroit on October 19, 2024, in Michigan. Detroit became the first Michigan community to offer early voting. — AFP
A Michigan judge dismissed an attempt by the Republican Party to prevent some Americans residing overseas from voting in the crucial state. The Republican National Committee had filed a lawsuit earlier in the month, contending that state election laws improperly permitted US citizens living abroad, who had never resided in Michigan but had relatives who did, to vote there. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled on Monday that the language challenged by Republicans was in line with both federal and state laws. "There is no basis to invalidate it," Patel stated. According to Michigan's secretary of state election officials manual, a US citizen who has never lived in the US but has a parent, legal guardian, or spouse who last lived in Michigan is eligible to vote in the state, provided they have not registered or voted in another state.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, RNC chairman Michael Whatley argued that citizens living in Michigan should not have "their votes negated by those who have never lived in the state". The RNC announced on Tuesday that it plans to appeal the decision. "We are committed to safeguarding every legal vote, including those from military and overseas citizens, to ensure they are not disqualified by ineligible votes," said Claire Zunk, the communications director for elections integrity at the RNC. According to the Federal Voting Assistance Programme, a government entity assisting military members and other US citizens living abroad with election logistics, approximately 2.9 million US citizens living abroad were eligible to vote in 2020, though less than eight percent of them actually did.
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