LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It’s another swing and a miss for Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and her department’s election procedures.

The Michigan Court of Claims ruled on Wednesday that election inspectors cannot count absentee ballots if the identifying number on the ballot’s stub does not match the number on the return envelope. In addition, the stub can’t be missing. The court’s basis for its ruling stems from a 2024 amended statute.

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Chief Judge Brock A. Swartzle said MCL 168.768 authorizes counting only when the numbers match. In other words, there is no legal basis to count mismatched ballots or ones missing a stub. That includes “challenged” ballots. The decision partially granted a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee, the Michigan Republican Party and Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Elections Director Jonathan Brater.

“The law is simple: ballot stubs must match, and incomplete ballots cannot be counted,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters. “This ruling is a major win for election integrity and for voters who deserve confidence that every lawful vote is protected.”

Benson has faced consistent battles – and losses – in court over her election procedures. Currently, she’s under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over her refusal to release voter roll information. In addition, her gubernatorial campaign is clouded by mediation between her office and the Michigan House. Benson has defied subpoenas and requests for full, unredacted election training materials.