LANSING, Mich. (Michigan Supreme Court) – Poll challenger guidance issued earlier this year by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will remain in place following a stay by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The state’s highest court issued the stay on Thursday. It will remain in effect throughout the appeals period available in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

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The decision comes as part of two cases, one of which had the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee as a plaintiff, which sought to disavow poll challenger guidance which would include a ban on cell phones and other electronic devices at absentee vote counting boards.

The stay pauses an October ruling from the Court of Claims which declared the guidance invalid, citing that the state enacted them improperly.

Benson’s office issued this statement: “[My office has] “long been confident in the legality of the Michigan Bureau of Elections’ guidelines surrounding election challengers and their rightful balance providing transparency while protecting voters and poll workers from disruptions and intimidation.”
The election is Tuesday, November 8. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.