Conyers Files Another Challenge To Get His Name On August Ballot
DETROIT (WWJ) - Longtime Michigan Congressman, John Conyers has initiated his second formal challenge to get his name on the primary ballot --- after the Wayne County clerk determined he did not have enough valid signatures to make the cut.
Congressman John Conyers team of lawyers have filed an appeal with Secretary of State, Ruth Johnson, just a day after Conyers joined a federal lawsuit taking aim at the requirement that petition collectors be registered voters.
Wayne county clerk, Cathy Garrett determined earlier this week that Conyers could not be on the August primary ballot because his petition circulators were not registered voters.
On Thursday, Conyers has joined a federal lawsuit taking aim at the requirement that petition collectors be registered voters.
Conyers joined the suit Thursday, two days after Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett determined he doesn't have enough signatures to appear on the Aug. 5 Democratic primary ballot. Clerk's office staffers determined that Conyers only collected 600 valid signatures — 400 short of the 1,000 required.
The suit was filed against Garrett and Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson by the ACLU on behalf of two petition circulators and others. The signatures they gathered weren't counted because they hadn't complied with state voter registration requirements.
Conyers campaign chair believes the 85-year old Congressman, the longest serving African American in the U.S. House, will be placed on the ballot. Secretary of State officials say the department will review the appeal and decide by June 6.
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