Snyder's lawyers fight to keep Michigan's poorest Congressional district unrepresented

[TexasTowelie]

A special election would cost too much. It would leave absentee voters in Ecorse and Wayne confused. It would be unfair… to the candidates.

A lawsuit filed against Gov. Rick Snyder for his failure to schedule a special election to fill the Congressional seat vacated by John Conyers in December sent the state scrambling for excuses during oral arguments in federal court in Detroit on Thursday. The suit brought by an attorney vying for the empty seat alleges Snyder discriminated against the predominantly black district and seeks preliminary injunctive relief in the form of a special primary election to be held as soon as possible, with a special general election to coincide with the Aug. 7 primary.

“This is the third-poorest district in the country,” lawyer Michael Gilmore told Judge Mark Goldsmith. “The president is [proposing] cutting programs that are essential to the people of this district and they have no representation.”

Under Snyder’s plan, the seat will remain vacant for more than a year — about half the length of a full House term, and reportedly the longest vacancy for a House seat in 20 years. His argument for disenfranchising voters in the low-income, minority district is familiar: It’s about saving money. A special, standalone primary election would cost $860,000.

Read more: https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/03/16/snyders-lawyers-fight-to-keep-michigans-poorest-congressional-district-unrepresented

[democratisphere]

1. Everyone needs to be represented regardless of their economic situation.

Why the hell does it cost so much to run an election? I'm all for going back to paper ballots.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Twenty percent of the money is to run the election

while the other 80% is to pay the Russian Mafia to rig the election.

[democratisphere]

3. Russian KGB special invisible ink pens can't cost that much!

But then I forgot about the cost of the Russian bot ads on fakebook and Twitter-Sh'tter.

[longship]

4. Michigan uses paper ballots statewide.

They are mark sense, but easy paper ballots.

[safeinOhio]

5. I'm sure he would do the same

for Okland County.......

[MichMan]

6. Democratic chair agreed with Snyder on the date

Jonathan Kinloch, Democratic chairman for the 13th District, said he supports the dates Snyder chose and he called Snyder's office Thursday to ask for those dates.

Time is needed to raise money so a wide array of potential candidates are able to run, Kinloch said. If early dates were chosen, only "swamp monsters" with ready access to money from lobbyists would be able to compete, he said.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/12/08/john-conyers-special-election-congress/934206001/