Michigan Dems can vote in both primary and caucus this year

Fighting back against Republican dirty tricks

In early January, I broke the news that Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer would be asking the state committee to bypass enforcing rules against Democrats voting in both the Democratic caucus and in the primary.

I have spoken with Michigan Democratic Chair Mark Brewer to ensure that this information is correct. He told me (and this is breaking news) that he will be proposing that the Michigan Democratic Party leadership vote to either not enforce or to waive the rule saying that Democrats may not vote in both the February primary and the May caucus. “What [Republican Secretary of State] Ruth Johnson has done has created far too much confusion for Democrats. I will be recommending to the State Central Committee that they waive, or at least not enforce, this rule.”

This was necessary due to political dirty trickery by the Republicans that is forcing the Democratic Party to have a primary against their wishes. In large part, this is so the Republicans don’t have to fund the primary on their own and forces the Democrats to share costs for a primary they don’t even want.

At any rate, today, the Democrats released a resolution (pdf) saying they will not enforce the law.

Resolution on Voting in the Presidential
Primary and the Presidential Caucus
WHEREAS, the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) decided a year ago not to
participate in the February 28, 2012 presidential primary election in order to save
taxpayers $10 million – money that would be better spent preserving the jobs of
valuable public employees who provide important public services; and

WHEREAS, the MDP will instead hold caucuses throughout the state on May 5, 2012 in order to select delegates to the Democratic National Convention on Sept. 4-6, 2012 in Charlotte, NC; and

WHEREAS, the MDP asked Michigan Republicans to agree to cancel the primary and hold their own presidential caucuses in order to save taxpayers $10 million; and

WHEREAS, Michigan Republicans refused to cancel the February 28th primary; and

WHEREAS, Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson put President Obama’s name on the primary ballot to cause partisan mischief and to confuse Democratic voters; and

WHEREAS, neither the MDP nor President Obama asked to have his name put on the ballot; and

WHEREAS, as a result of Johnson’s partisan actions, Democratic voters who want to support President Obama are confused and concerned about violating the Party rule which prohibits voting in the February 28th primary and at the May 5th caucus;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in order to alleviate confusion and ensure that no Democratic voter is disenfranchised, the Michigan Democratic Party will not enforce the rule prohibiting voting in both the primary and the caucus; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the MDP encourages all Democrats to vote in local elections on February 28th regardless of whether they vote in the primary.

I love that they are tweaking Secretary of State Ruth Johnson‘s nose. Heh.

[H/T Lynn/wavingcrosser via Twitter]