The Michigan Secretary of State is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that an independent candidate must go on the November ballot – despite not having enough valid signatures to qualify.
A federal court recently said that Christopher Graveline must appear on the November ballot if at least 5-thousand of the signatures he submitted are valid. Graveline got more than that, but only about half of the signatures an independent would normally need to get on the ballot in the state Attorney General race. So he sued the state.
The lower court said the current requirements for a non-party affiliated candidates have resulted in no independent candidates on ballots.
Now the state is appealing the decision – and wants the judge’s order to put Graveline on the ballot on hold.
The deadline for the state to certify the November ballot is about a week away.