In November 2020, Bedford Public Schools Board of Education member Todd Bruning won election to the Bedford Township Board as a trustee in Monroe County, Michigan. His current term on the school board expires in 2022. Despite winning the township board...
Election Law
Can A Candidate Misrepresent His Or Her Incumbency During A Michigan Election Campaign?
The benefits of incumbency cannot be overstated in a U.S. election. Incumbents are returned to the U.S. House of Representatives over 90% of the time. The incumbent benefits from name recognition, the use of government resources in elections (e.g. franking...
Can Convicted Felons Run For Political Office In Michigan?
On March 24, 2008, Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was charged with eight felony counts (including perjury, misconduct in office and obstruction of justice) by state authorities. He resigned from office on September 19, 2008 following his guilty plea to two...
What Public Offices Are Subject To Term Limits In Michigan?
On November 3, 1992, Michigan voters enacted Proposal B, the Michigan Term Limits Amendment, which amended the state constitution to limit the number of terms that state officials may serve. The amendments read as follows: “No person shall be elected more than...
Can You Vote For A Write-In Candidate In Michigan?
A write-in candidate is an individual whose name does not appear on the ballot on Election Day but seeks office by asking voters to cast a vote by writing his or her name on the ballot. Write-in candidates can surface when the office-seeker failed to win a...
Are Campaign Contributions Tax Deductible?
The costs to run for political office are nearly astronomical. In 2016. President Donald Trump spent about $450 million on his campaign while his opponent Hillary Clinton spend about $770 million. A candidate running for the U.S. Senate can expect to spend...
Must Voters Possess Photo Identification When Voting In An Election In Michigan?
Michigan has relaxed rules regarding the identification that voters must present to confirm their identity before casting a ballot in Michigan. When appearing to vote, a person can present any of the following photo identification documents to satisfy the...
Can A Voter Carry A Firearm To A Polling Location In Michigan?
On October 16, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, as the chief election officer, issued directions to local election officials that the open carry of firearms on Election Day in locations where voting activity is occurring. Specifically, the...
What Are The Penalties For Voter Intimidation In Michigan?
Presidential elections are high-stakes affairs that determine the course of our nation for the next four years. Every voter has a right to cast his or her ballot free from intimidation, coercion or threats from others. However, desperation can breed bad...
Why Won’t Kanye West Appear On The 2020 Presidential Ballot In Michigan?
Kanye West is a rap superstar, record producer and fashion designer commanding a business empire with his wife, Kim Kardashian West, worth millions of dollars. On July 4, 2020, he announced on Twitter that he would expand his horizons by running for the office...
