Mi Primary in Question

Written by: Liz Soll on Nov 14, 2007 11:00 AM EST

"On November 7, Ingham Circuit Judge William Collette ruled that the provision to provide voter records to the Democratic and Republican parties, included in the legislation that would allow a January 15 primary, is unconstitutional. The basis for his ruling was that because the lists were only provided to the two parties, the legislation constituted an appropriation of public property for private use that would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature under the Constitution, which the legislation did not receive. The ruling voids the primary.

The early primary may still continue if legislative or legal action is taken to address the ruling. Legislative action was taken on November 8 when the Senate voted on substitutes for HB 4506 and HB 4507. However, the Senate failed to give the bills immediate effect, therefore not allowing sufficient time for the bills to be effective to enable a January 15 primary."

Want to know more: Click on the link below for an Associated Press story: ". . .The ruling effectively cancels the primary date unless there is a successful appeal or state law is changed to allow the vote to go forward. The primary date had been pushed up by state Republicans and Democrats to make Michigan more relevant to the selection of presidential candidates. .

"The national Republican and Democratic parties had threatened to slap the state parties with sanctions for violating party rules if Michigan followed through on the primary plan. Several Democratic candidates withdrew from the Michigan primary, leaving Hillary Rodham Clinton as the only top-tier candidate left on the ballot. "

Link: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/1194451166245410.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

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