BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A Republican candidate for state Legislature wants a vote recount stopped by the court, while Democrats accuse him of trying to block an accurate count of the ballots.
The race in question is between incumbent state Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) against Republican challenger Steve Frisbie in the 44th District race in Battle Creek.
The issue at hand stems from an error in processing thousands of absentee ballots, reported by the county clerk.
When returns were initially posted the day after the election, Frisbie had a lead of 1,381. After the Board of Canvassers began its certification of the votes, the board ordered a re-tabulation because of the reported error.
Tuesday, the county clerk shared new numbers from those previously uncounted ballots, which narrowed Frisbie's lead to just 58 votes.
Read the full lawsuit below:
Cc - Complaint Complaint - 2024003227 for Calhoun County Board of Canvassers by WXMI on Scribd
Frisbie filed a lawsuit in Calhoun County Circuit Court to stop the re-tabulation. The lawsuit claims the board should have first finished reviewing what's called a statement of returns to ensure there was a discrepancy in the first place, saying the board's failure to follow Michigan election law may determine the outcome of his campaign and his legal rights.
His attorneys say the board sidestepped Michigan law and engaged in a baseless process.
Despite the lawsuit, the board voted unanimously to continue the recount.
Here's the latest on the vote count according to Decision Desk HQ:
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra says the effort to re-tabulate ballots was driven by partisan politics.
"The Democrats are selectively pushing to re-tabulate super-Democrat ballots (Absentee only in the City of Battle Creek) in an effort to undermine Steve Frisbie's win in House District 44," said Hoekstra in a statement. "Litigation in the future may be needed to eliminate this administrative weapon the Democrats are trying to wield in the closest State House race in the state."
A statement from Chairman @petehoekstra on House District 44. pic.twitter.com/S2fAThCqXd
— Michigan GOP (@MIGOP) November 13, 2024
The Michigan Democratic Party shared the following statement from Representative Haadsma:
“I want to see every vote accurately counted, regardless of whether it impacts the results of the election.
“Confidence in our elections is essential to the health of our democracy, and the people of Battle Creek deserve to know that every effort was made to ensure the accurate tabulation of their votes.”
This article was updated with the statement from Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra.
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