DETROIT – Veteran Congressman John Conyers does not qualify for the Aug. 5 primary ballot, said Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett.
"Seeing that I do not have the authority to rule on the constitutionality of laws and statutes, that the County Clerks are bound by, it is my determination that in accordance with the current laws and statutes of the State of Michigan, the nominating petitions filed by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. are insufficient to allow his name to appear on the August 5, 2014 Primary Ballot," said Garrett in a news release.
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View/download: Full news release
View/download: Wayne County clerk's final determination on Conyers' ballot status
Bert Johnson, Conyers' campaign chairman, released this statement Tuesday evening:
"The fact that the Wayne County Clerk has issued her determination will allow us to move on to present a direct and straightforward case that under the U.S. Constitution, every voter who wants to sign a petition to support their desired candidate and political position should be able to do so.
The Wayne County Clerk has engaged in a deliberative process, however, we look forward to presenting our case before the appropriate authorities. There is clear Supreme Court and federal court precedent overturning petition residency laws and requirements, and we are confident that those laws will be invalidated in Michigan as well. As a result, under existing precedent, we believe Representative Conyers will ultimately be placed on the August ballot.
Representative Conyers has fought his entire career defending the right to vote, and he looks forward to fighting this battle for the precious right to participate in our electoral process as well."