LANSING, Mich. — Three Republican organizations took Lansing’s Election Commission to court this week, saying August primary inspector jobs skewed heavily Democratic and that application files stayed closed.
Plaintiffs include the Republican National Committee, the Michigan Republican Party and the Ingham County Republican Party. Their complaint puts the August roster at 140 Democrats and 71 Republicans — almost two Democrats for every Republican assigned.
State statute tells clerks to staff both major parties as evenly as they can. The filing seeks court orders that lock in balanced appointments before the Nov. 3 general election and release the inspector applications Republicans say are public records.
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum said the case landed while appointment windows were still open and that it pulls clerks off ballot-site setup and public accuracy testing. She noted gaps can widen when picked workers miss training, reject the oath or simply do not show.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters cast Michigan as a high-stakes election battleground and said Democratic leaders sidelined GOP applicants after outreach. Lansing election managers had not posted a full written response as of Wednesday.
City Clerk Chris Swope runs municipal elections operations. Mayor Andy Schor leads Lansing city government.
