Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has advised local election clerks that openly carrying firearms at polling places is not allowed on Election Day and they are to contact law enforcement if it occurs. Meanwhile, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that mailed absentee ballots need to be in the hands of local clerks before 8 p.m. on Election Capital Building Lansing CroppedDay, Nov. 3 without any extension for ballots postmarked before the election. Soon after the Supreme Court’s ruling against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s use of the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has largely reinstated aspects of the governor's COVID-19 emergency orders under the Michigan Health Code. The governor also issued new emergency rules from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) to continue to handle COVID-19. Whitmer signed Senate Bills 886 and 991, which extend unemployment benefits for people who have lost work due to COVID-19, from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of year. The Senate unanimously passed HB 6137 that would require DHHS to publicly report weekly the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths in nursing homes starting Nov. 15. A Court of Claims lawsuit has been filed against the governor's use of the executive branch to “issue and enforce emergency orders” the Michigan Supreme Court ruled illegal.

For additional information on these issues and the latest legislative news, please click here for the October 2020 Karoub Report.