AG Nessel announced that the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed and vacated the Michigan Court of Claims December 2025 decision on the processing of absent-voter ballots, ruling that Michigan law does not prohibit the tabulation of absent-voter ballots returned with missing or mismatched ballot stubs.

“Every eligible voter deserves a voice in our democracy, and this lawsuit was just another tactic by Republicans to bully clerks, suppress votes, and disrupt our elections. I am relieved that the Court of Appeals saw through this stunt and struck down a burdensome hurdle for our local election workers. This decision marks our fourth elections victory this week. Our state is leading the nation in securing safe, accessible ballots, and my office will continue fighting these absurd legal challenges to protect the fundamental rights of Michiganders.” -AG Nessel