Hi there, Michigan.

A small note of celebration: Today marks two years of me at Votebeat! It’s been a wonderful two years — here’s to four dozen more.

In other news: I think we’re long overdue for some legal updates. I’m out of town this week on a reporting trip (more on that in a few weeks), but here’s what’s been happening around this beautiful state lately.

Hamtramck City Council

A jury found Hamtramck City Councilmember Mohammed Hassan guilty of a misdemeanor election charge. He was found not guilty of two felony election charges. These charges stemmed from accusations that he, as well as his fellow Councilmember Muhtasin Sadman, allegedly collected and filled out absentee ballots in the city's 2023 elections. Sadman, meanwhile, reached a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this year.

Last year, Attorney General Dana Nessel named four other people — including three others currently on the Hamtramck City Council — in a document seeking a prosecutor for alleged election crimes. None of those four appear to have been charged, according to court records.

DOJ’s pursuit of Michigan’s voter rolls

I wrote late last month that the Sixth District Court of Appeals had denied the Trump administration’s appeal in its attempt to get Michigan’s voter rolls. Court filings in the time since show that the federal government is asking for the case to be reheard en banc, a special hearing where all the judges on a court hear a case to see if the initial panel made a mistake. The federal government also requested the case to be expedited, arguing an answer was needed before the general election. Attorneys representing Michigan opposed both requests.

The Trump administration has lost similar suits across the country, although the Michigan case is furthest along. Michigan’s case may ultimately end up before the United States Supreme Court as a result.

New lawsuit against Jocelyn Benson

The Republican National Committee, Michigan GOP, and a few others filed a lawsuit late last month against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and state Director of Elections Jonathan Brater. The suit alleges administrative rules that were put in place earlier this year restrict the rights of election challengers.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said the new rules are “trying to sideline the citizens who help keep elections transparent.”

Let me know your election questions and news tips — I’m at [email protected]. And, if you know someone else who might be interested in this newsletter, encourage them to subscribe here!

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