A decisive victory for transparency has unfolded in Michigan, as the Court of Claims rebuked an attempt to shield crucial voter information from public view. The court effectively halted the Bureau of Elections’ move to redact how citizens actually cast their ballots – a practice that sparked immediate concern among election integrity advocates.
The case centered on a quiet decision made in March to remove the “Voting Type” column from the Qualified Voter File. This column, historically public, detailed whether a voter participated on Election Day, through Early In-Person voting, or via absentee ballot. The Bureau, led by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, justified the change by claiming it was necessary to protect the secrecy of the ballot.
Judge Christopher P. Yates, appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, rejected this justification. He ruled overwhelmingly in favor of Phani Mantravadi, founder of Check My Vote, who brought the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit challenging the redaction.
The court’s opinion was unequivocal: the Bureau failed to demonstrate any legitimate reason to blanket-redact this data for all Michigan voters. While acknowledging limited redaction might be warranted in exceptionally rare circumstances involving very small precincts, the judge emphasized that the vast majority of voting-type information must be released to the public.
“The Court agrees with plaintiff that the vast majority of voting-type information should be publicly available because such disclosure will not compromise the constitutional right of electors to cast a secret ballot,” the ruling stated. The judge also dismissed the Bureau’s attempt to invoke a FOIA privacy exemption, noting the information has long been considered public record and isn’t inherently personal.
This isn’t the first time Judge Yates has sided with election integrity concerns. Earlier in 2024, he ruled against Secretary Benson in another significant case, declaring her election manual unconstitutional and mandating stricter signature verification for mail-in ballots.
The history of this issue extends back to 2020, when Secretary Benson instructed local clerks to largely disregard signature matching on absentee ballots, presuming validity unless discrepancies were “multiple, significant and obvious.” That directive was later invalidated by another judge, highlighting a pattern of challenges to Benson’s election-related decisions.
Today’s ruling represents another critical setback for efforts to limit transparency in Michigan elections. It underscores a consistent pattern of court decisions rebuking the Bureau and Secretary of State Benson for attempting to obscure election data while, simultaneously, concerns have been raised about the sharing of voter information with outside groups.
The decision is a testament to the relentless pursuit of transparency by Phani Mantravadi and a powerful affirmation of the public’s right to know. It marks a significant step toward ensuring free, fair, and open elections in Michigan, and a victory for those dedicated to upholding the rule of law.
