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Michigan asks high court to halt straight-party vote ruling

Posted at 2:57 PM, Sep 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-02 14:57:37-04

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s attorney general is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene so a new ban on straight-party voting can take effect for the November election.

The emergency request filed Friday says a federal district judge and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrongly blocked the law when “all Michigan has done is adopt an approach that 40 other states already follow.”

The ban would prevent voters from supporting all candidates from one party with a single mark.

Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette says a response from the justices is needed by next Thursday so election officials can start printing ballots.

The lower courts ruled that the GOP-sponsored law — which is opposed by Democrats — would disproportionately burden black voters by creating longer lines.