Previously, the legislature attempted to end the use of the Michigan straight-ticket vote device that many believe disadvantages independent candidates. The following information was provided by San Francisco, California-based election expert Richard Winger on Ballot Access News, the incredible website he founded and manages. Take a look at the article titled, U.S. District Court Rejects Attempt to End the Lawsuit Over Straight-Ticket Voting, Says Trial is Needed, here:

On January 19, U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin Drain issued this order in the lawsuit over straight-ticket voting, which is Michigan State A. Philip Randolph Institute v Johnson, e.d., 2:16cv-11844. The case is over whether the U.S. Constitution requires Michigan to keep the straight-ticket device, even though the legislature repealed it in early 2017. The plaintiffs argue that eliminating the device injures African-American voters.

The order says that the state’s attempt to dismiss the case fails, and that a trial will be needed to gather evidence. Pages 20-21 mentions the party logo (“vignette”) as a reason to keep the straight-ticket device. It is strange that the judge mentioned the logo, because logos were repealed in 2017 by HB 4177. Perhaps the state’s briefs have never told the judge about this change in the law.

It is unfortunate that no one has told the judge that straight-ticket voting is very harmful to independent candidates. The state doesn’t seem to be interested in making that argument, and no one has intervened in the case on behalf of independent candidates. 

Also see these two past Democracy Chronicles articles Michigan Straight Ticket Voting System Kept Off Ballot and Michigan Passes Bill that Eliminates Party Logos on Ballots.