ACLU Sues To End Michigan's Two-Party Voter Lists Access Law

Detroit, MI (AHN) - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan has filed a federal lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Detroit seeking the nullification of a state primary law that grants lists of voters' declarations of their party affiliations only to the Republican and Democratic parties.

The lawsuit filed on Friday does not seek to stop or delay the presidential primary voting on Tuesday.

The Michigan ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of three smaller political parties, a consulting firm and a local newspaper. It argued that the law excludes individuals and smaller parties from meaningful participation in the political process.

The Detroit News quoted Kary Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, as saying, "It is our contention that the state cannot lawfully limit access to this information to the two major political parties."

The lawsuit lists as defendant the Secretary of State's office, which is in charge by of running elections and distributing the lists of voters' declarations. The complainants are the Green Party of Michigan, the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Reform Party of Michigan, the Winning Strategies consulting firm, and the Metro Times.

The law requires the distribution of the voter lists within 71 days of the election.