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State Representative Jay DeBoyer has voiced his criticism of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's plan for filling vacant seats in the Michigan House. DeBoyer, who serves on the House Elections Committee, expressed concerns about the implementation and fairness of the process.

One of DeBoyer's main criticisms is the tight timeline given to potential candidates. He pointed out that the announcement of the special election came with a filing deadline of just 12 hours later. This gave little time for individuals to decide if they wanted to run and submit their intention. Furthermore, with local clerk's offices closed for the holiday weekend, the timeline was even more limited. DeBoyer described this rushed approach as an "insult to our elections process" and a disservice to the communities relying on thorough representation in Lansing.

DeBoyer also raised concerns about the timing of the special election in relation to the next legislative term. The announced April 16, 2024 special election is very close to the April 24 candidacy filing for the next term. This proximity, according to DeBoyer, could give the winner of the special election an unfair advantage as they would have the power of incumbency. The primaries for the special elections are scheduled for January 30, 2024.

In addition to these concerns, DeBoyer highlighted the financial and administrative burden that the special elections would place on local clerks. Conducting these elections in close proximity to the state's 2024 presidential primary would require significant resources. As someone who has served as the St. Clair County clerk for 12 years before entering the Legislature, DeBoyer emphasized the challenges faced by these officials.

DeBoyer concluded by stating, "It's important to have people working on behalf of the people in the House as quickly as possible, but it's irresponsible to cut corners and impose difficult timelines for the officials who will be overseeing the elections and are charged with delivering accurate, timely results." He criticized the move as impractical and called for a more balanced and considerate approach to filling the vacant seats.

The response from Governor Whitmer or her administration was not included in the article.

Click this link to access more information: https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-deboyer-rips-announced-process-for-filling-open-house-seats