A Wayne County judge on Friday rejected as “not credible” complaints by Republican poll challengers that they were blocked from doing their jobs on election night. The decision means certification of the state’s election totals will continue on schedule despite challenges from President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Judge Timothy Kenny denied several motions filed by Republican poll challengers who claim they were stopped from doing their jobs on election night.
“Plaintiffs interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible,” Kenney wrote in the decision.
“It would cause delay in the Presidential vote tabulation, as well as other County and State races,” he wrote. “It would also undermine faith in the Electoral system.”
And: “Finally, this Court has to determine whether there is a harm to the public interest. This Court finds the answer is a resounding yes.”
Kenny said a delay could disenfranchise Michigan voters if it stopped Michigan electors from casting their electoral college votes. He also said there are still opportunities to challenge the results once they are certified.
The case applies only to counting at the TCF Center in Detroit, but that would hold up certifying the statewide results. So that’s on track to be made official November 23rd. Michigan’s 16 electoral votes have been called for President-elect Joe Biden.
In a related development, GOP leaders in the Legislature said there would be no attempt to replace Democratic electors with Republican electors to block Biden from taking office.