This week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit challenging how Michigan removes deceased voters from the state’s voter file, leaving lower court rulings in place that dismissed the claims.
The lawsuit alleged that Michigan was failing to properly remove deceased voters from the rolls. Both the federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected those claims.
In its decision, the Sixth Circuit wrote that a state actively removing deceased registrants using state and federal death records is making a “rational, sensible attempt” to maintain accurate voter registration lists. The court also noted that Michigan not only meets this standard but goes beyond it.
Maintaining accurate voter rolls is a routine part of election administration. Since 2019, Michigan election officials have removed more than 1.4 million outdated registrations from the Qualified Voter File (QVF) in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. Michigan also ranks among the most active states in the country in removing registrations of voters who have died, according to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Federal courts reviewed the claims about Michigan’s voter roll maintenance and rejected them. The rulings reinforce what election officials and administrators have long stated: Michigan’s elections are secure and the systems used to maintain the voter file are functioning as intended.
Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) will continue year-round civic education to ensure communities understand their rights and have accurate information about voting in Michigan. More information about Michigan’s multi-layered voter list maintenance process is available online.
To check or update your voter registration, visit Michigan.gov/Vote.
Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Value.
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