Paywalls and politics.

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The RNC filed the lawsuit in February after Lansing hit them with a nearly $5,000 bill – including a $2,397 deposit just to begin collecting the footage. By contrast, other cities like Detroit, Flint, East Lansing, and Muskegon reportedly provided similar materials for a fraction of the cost – or for free. The FOIA request dates back to November 26, after the 2024 election.

The key questions now before the court are whether Lansing’s charges reflect legitimate costs, an unnecessary delay, or an attempt to discourage public access to election records. The judge will determine whether the city’s fees are reasonable under the law or a pricing scheme acting as a political filter.

Why the RNC won’t drop it.

The RNC says it’s seeking the footage to verify compliance and accountability in Michigan’s election process. Even if nothing shocking turns up, the case forces Lansing to explain its math on the invoice.

“The City of Lansing is throwing up completely unnecessary obstacles and violating Michigan law to discourage citizens from requesting records about our elections,” the RNC said in a statement.

City’s defense: “It’s a lot of video.”

Lansing City Council President Ryan Kost has defended the fees, claiming staff would need to review 240 hours of footage to redact anything “nonpublic.” The RNC counters that all 14 drop boxes are located outdoors – hardly a zone with a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”

What’s next.

If Lansing loses the lawsuit, the city could be on the hook not just for turning over the footage, but for the RNC’s legal costs too – plus maybe a new benchmark for what Michigan residents can be charged to see what their government is doing.