The deadline to file motions in GOP gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson’s lawsuit against state election officials was Tuesday.
He’s suing to remain on the primary ballot after the Board of State Canvassers failed to agree on the handling of thousands of signatures on Johnson’s nominating petitions.
The Bureau of Elections found those signatures were likely faked, meaning Johnson might not have met the ballot qualifying threshold. The Board of State Canvassers deadlock meant the elections bureau’s recommendation to exclude Johnson, four other GOP gubernatorial candidates, and a handful of candidates for other offices from the primary ballot was sustained.
Johnson maintains he has enough valid signatures.
And the group Voters Not Politicians filed an amicus brief Tuesday arguing Johnson has no legal right to ballot certification.
“Candidates for governor only had to collect 15,000 signatures. So, for candidates like Perry Johnson that failed to do that and are now refusing to take responsibility and are trying to blame others, they don’t deserve to be on the ballot. And it was right for the state to disqualify them,” the group’s executive director Nancy Wang said.
This story was originally published by Michigan Public Radio. Read more here: https://www.michiganradio.org/politics-government/2022-05-31/briefs-filed-in-lawsuit-over-gop-petition-signatures