Federal Judge Upholds Michigan Voting Law Against Republican Challenge
A Michigan judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee and Michigan Republican Party that sought to invalidate voting rights for military families and citizens living overseas.
Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel dismissed the challenge with prejudice on Wednesday, ruling that a state law allowing spouses and dependents of Americans living abroad to vote absentee is consistent with the Michigan Constitution.
The law in question permits voting-age children and spouses of Americans living overseas to vote using their family's last residence, even if they have never lived in Michigan themselves.
Constitutional Residency Definition
The RNC argued that the law violated the state constitution's residency requirements, which state that electors must have "resided in this state six months."
However, Judge Patel found that the constitution gives the Legislature authority to define residence for election purposes, with lawmakers setting that definition within the law.
"In her decision to grant the defendant's motion for summary disposition, Patel noted that the constitution gives the Legislature authority to define residence for election purposes, with lawmakers setting that definition within the law in question," according to the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Second Time Courts Have Rejected This Strategy
This ruling marks the second time courts have shut down GOP efforts in Michigan to eliminate voting access for overseas voters. In 2025, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected a similar case centered on the same rules within the state Election Officials Manual.
The decision comes just days after Republicans filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Virginia.
Military Families at Center of Dispute
At stake in the case was the right of the spouses and dependents of absent uniformed services and overseas voters to register to vote and cast absentee ballots in Michigan.
Both federal and state law protect the right of the subject group to vote by absentee ballot. The federal government requires states to permit absent uniformed services and overseas voters, as well as their spouses and dependents, to apply for and vote by absentee ballot.
Benson Welcomes Ruling
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson called the decision a victory for military service members, their families, and the rule of law.
"Every U.S. citizen has the Constitutional right to freely vote in every election — that should be a basic, nonpartisan position shared by every American, regardless of political preference," Benson said.
"I hope the court's dismissal of this case marks the end of the RNC's deliberate, well-funded attack on military and overseas citizen voting," Benson added. "But I'm prepared to continue the fight to defend the voting rights of every eligible citizen in our state and across the nation."
Neither the RNC nor the Michigan Republican Party responded to messages asking whether they would appeal the decision.
Democrats Support Benson
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, which filed a brief in support of Benson, echoed the secretary of state's celebration while pledging that the DNC will stop at nothing to prevent Republicans from cheating their way out of accountability in 2026, especially when their schemes target the families of brave military servicemembers.
Broader GOP Legal Strategy
The ruling is a direct rebuke of the GOP's broader legal strategy targeting overseas voters. In recent years, Republicans have filed a growing number of lawsuits and pushed legislation aimed at restricting voting access for these voters, often arguing that some should not be allowed to participate in elections at all.
Courts, including now twice in Michigan, have repeatedly rejected those arguments.
The RNC lawsuit was one of many cases that Republicans have filed against Benson, with the Michigan Court of Appeals rejecting a similar case in 2025, centered on the same rules within the state Election Officials Manual.