RNC Sues Lansing Officials Over Alleged Democratic Edge In Poll Worker Appointments
The Republican National Committee and the Michigan and Ingham County Republican parties have sued Lansing election officials, alleging that the city favored Democrats when appointing election inspectors for November’s general election.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, says Lansing appointed 140 Democrats and 71 Republicans to Election Day polling places. It also lists 28 Democrats and 16 Republicans at early voting locations, and 15 Democrats and 11 Republicans on the receiving board. Absentee ballot counting boards showed a different balance: 20 Democrats and 22 Republicans, according to the complaint.
Michigan law requires at least one inspector from each major party and calls for an equal number from each party in every precinct, “as nearly as possible.” That means the overall citywide totals alone do not resolve whether officials complied; the court will need to examine appointments precinct by precinct.
Republicans allege they provided qualified applicants who could have filled more positions, but city officials appointed far more Democrats. The complaint also says officials denied a state Republican Party representative access to inspector applications, which the party wants to review to assess who applied and how appointments were made.
The Republicans are asking the court to order Lansing to appoint more GOP inspectors and provide access to applications. They also seek procedures intended to bring future appointments into compliance with state law. No court has ruled that Lansing violated the law or deliberately excluded Republican applicants.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters accused Democrats of stacking the deck and concealing the paper trail. The allegation will have to be tested against the records and the city’s explanation. Election administrators can face difficulty recruiting enough workers, and a numerical disparity by itself does not establish why particular applicants were or were not selected.
Election inspectors staff polling places and assist with voting and ballot processing. Michigan’s partisan balance requirements are intended to ensure both major parties are represented in election operations.
The lawsuit comes ahead of consequential Senate and gubernatorial contests in Michigan. A ruling before Election Day could clarify whether Lansing must reassign inspectors and whether Republicans can inspect the application records. The case concerns staffing and compliance; it does not, by itself, establish altered votes, fraudulent ballots or a compromised election result.