Michigan Judge Denies Request for Wayne County Election Audit

Workers with the Detroit Department of Elections sort through absentee ballots at the Central Counting Board in the TCF Center in Detroit, Mich., on Nov. 2, 2020. Elaine Cromie/Getty Images

A Michigan court on Tuesday denied a lawsuit that sought an audit of Wayne County’s election results by county clerks, noting that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced an audit last month.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny said the request was “premature.” If Benson’s office does not carry out an election audit, Kenny said (pdf) the plaintiffs “could file a mandamus petition with the Michigan Court of Claims,” recognizing their “constitutional right to an audit.”