A judge’s ruling for “democracy”?

Judge James Robert Redford handed down the ruling on Saturday, instructing state officials to “qualify” West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, provided their submitted signatures meet the required verification standards. Redford said that West was not required to file the affidavit of identity because the court says, “The affidavit of identity (AOI) filing requirement does not apply to a candidate nominated for the office of President of the United States or Vice President of the United States.” Redford goes on to say, “The Court respectfully concludes the SOS and Director of the Bureau of Elections (DBOE) misapplied the law in finding otherwise.”

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The ruling, while a win for West, is a considerable blow to Democrats who had hoped to limit competition on the ballot and marks a significant setback for Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, whose attempts to exclude West from the ballot have been criticized as “voter suppression” by the watchdog group Fair Election Fund.

West responds.

West said about the decision in a statement, “This ruling is not just a legal victory – it is a moral victory for everyone who believes in the sanctity of the democratic process. Our campaign submitted over 26,000 signatures, significantly more than required, which the court recognized as a legitimate expression of the people’s will. We are grateful for this affirmation and promise to continue championing the rights of all voters.”

In another decision in West’s favor, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers voted 3-1 on Monday to certify West’s candidacy, even though questions have been raised about the validity of some signatures on his nominating petitions.

Legal challenges loom.

Democratic strategist and attorney Mark Brewer, who is also a former Michigan Democratic Party Chair, who has challenged West’s petition signatures, strongly objected to the board’s decision, accusing them of neglecting their duty by allowing what he described as “forged” signatures to be accepted. Brewer has vowed to appeal the certification as well as the Redford decision which has been appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Despite these accusations, the Michigan Bureau of Elections defended its certification process, asserting that West would still have enough valid signatures to qualify, even if the disputed ones were discarded. The board’s discussions underscored the tension between following established procedures and addressing emerging concerns, with the lone dissenting member, Mary Ellen Gurewitz, advocating for more stringent verification measures.