Detroit agrees to narrow partisan gap in poll worker selection, settling lawsuit
(The Center Square) – Detroit will correct its poll worker selection process to balance party representation on Election Day, reaching a lawsuit settlement with the Republican National Committee.
The RNC had sued the city for selecting a disproportionately high number of Democrat poll workers in the August primaries – seven Democrat workers for every one Republican worker – accusing the city of violating Michigan election law and demanding it hire more Republicans for the November General Election.
“Thanks to the efforts of the RNC and Michigan GOP, Detroit will now change its election processes so that Republican poll workers will be allocated to all voting locations and, as nearly as possible, an equal number of Republicans will be hired this November,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said.
The state’s election law requires the board of election commissioners “shall appoint an equal number, as nearly as possible, of election inspectors in each election precinct from each major political party,” to help ensure election transparency and fairness.
But the city had appointed about 2,340 Democrat poll workers and only 308 Republican poll workers in the August primaries, with at least 600 more Republican poll worker candidates available but not selected, according to RNC lists.
Out of the 335 precincts who provided poll information, 200 failed to hire a single Republican election inspector in the August primaries.
“This will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to Detroit’s election system and ensure that a more equal number of Republicans and Democrats work Detroit’s polls–our election integrity operation will continue to fight and win for our country’s most important election,” Whatley said.
