Know the Timelines in Election Law
Regardless of which state you’re in, there are important timelines in election law. Why is this important to know? Check out this excerpt from the Michigan Bar Journal. “Similar to statutes of limitations, MEL contains numerous deadlines for candidates and proposals that must be strictly followed in order to qualify for the ballot. For example, absentee voter ballots must be delivered at least 47 days before any election or primary election. The Board of State Canvassers must complete its canvass and determine a winner of an election no later than the 20th day after the election. However, unlike other statutes of limitations, courts lack the authority to move election day, certification of election deadlines, and other time limits for printing and mailing ballots. Thus, failure to timely challenge the qualifications of a candidate or ballot proposal or the results of an election will likely lead to dismissal of the challenge for no other reason than being too late.”
