The campaign of former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee have filed a lawsuit against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, alleging the state has violated the National Voter Registration Act.
A complaint filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan asserts that Whitmer lacks the authority to designate federal Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) offices as voter registration agencies.
“The federal government should not be using American taxpayers’ dollars to conduct unauthorized voter registration activities," RNC Chairman Michael Watley said in a statement.
The Michigan Republican Party is also listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Additional defendants include Michigan Director of Elections Jonathan Brater, the SBA, VA and their directors.
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"The RNC has vital interests in protecting the ability of Republican voters to cast, and Republican candidates to receive, effective votes in Michigan elections and elsewhere. The RNC and Michigan GOP have strong interests in ensuring that they and their candidates compete for votes in a lawfully structured competitive environment," the complaint states.
The lawsuit asserts the National Voter Registration Act assigns power to designate voter registration agencies to the Legislature, not the governor's office. While the Legislature called upon the governor to designate voter registration agencies in 1995, plaintiffs argue that is no longer valid since the law called upon the governor to do so within 30 days of being enacted.
Bobby Leddy, director of communications for Whitmer, said her office was reviewing the lawsuit. Benson's office derided the lawsuit.
"It is unfortunate that this divisive, partisan lawsuit was filed today. Making it easier for veterans and small business owners in Michigan to register to vote should not be controversial," Angela Benander, director of communications for Benson's office, said in a statement.
"We will review this and any other litigation that comes our way but remain committed to ensuring that every Michigan voter has the tools and resources they need to participate in every election."
Benson is Michigan's chief election official. Last year, her office announced three VA offices would be pilot locations for a new voter registration partnership. Her office made a similar announcement about a voter registration agreement with the SBA in March.
“I’m proud today to announce this historic partnership between the state of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure we expand opportunities for all veterans and their families to play an active role in our democracy,” Benson said when the VA partnership was launched last September. “This partnership will break down many barriers that keep veterans from participating in our democratic process and will provide the information and tools they need to fully exercise their voting rights in every election.”
The lawsuit seeks to bar Whitmer and Benson from naming any other voter registration agencies moving forward and invalidate the naming of SBA and VA offices as voter registration agencies.
A federal judge has not yet been assigned to the case, according to online court records.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: RNC, Trump campaign sue Whitmer, Benson over voter registration site designations
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