Michigan Primary Faces List, ID Problems

Michigan Primary Faces List, ID Problems

Michigan's calendar-jumping Jan. 15 primary is, at least for the moment, unconstitutional. In a bench ruling in Grebner v State, a lower court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state to hold presidential primaries for the two major parties and then give the list of participants only to those two major parties and not make those lists public.

An immediate appeal is planned, but in the meantime the parties are considering their options. The Legislature, still in session, could amend the voter list portion of the law. The Detroit Free Press reports that Democrats could hold a "caucus" of sorts, which would include a vote by mail absentee process. Dates under consideration are Jan. 5 or 12 or Feb. 9. Republicans may hold county conventions on Jan. 17.

Michigan also faces problems with its new voter ID law, reports the Free Press. In Tuesday's local elections, complaints ran about 40% higher than the number of complaints usually received during higher turnout presidential or gubernatorial elections. The Detroit NAACP, Michigan ACLU, and other groups challenged the photo ID requirement earlier this year. "Voters are angry and confused," said Butch Hollowell, general counsel for the Detroit NAACP.