In a reversal of a lower court decision, a Michigan Court of Appeals panel ruled Friday that absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted.
In September, a Democratic-appointed Court of Claims judge issued a 14-day extension for counting ballots amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s been widespread reports of mail delays in recent months and many voting rights groups have urged voters to return their ballots early.
However, the appeals courts decision from three GOP appointees blocked the extension and said a remedy is up to the Legislature, which also is controlled by Republicans. Any action is unlikely, as Republican lawmakers intervened to appeal the decision, as part of a larger pushback on expanding voting rights.
