The Republican-controlled Legislature has been granted the right to intervene and appeal a groundbreaking court decision that allows Michigan absentee ballots to be counted for 14 days after the election.
The ruling means the case is certain to land in a higher court in the final weeks of the campaign season.
More than 2 million absentee ballots are expected to be cast. Judge Cynthia Stephens, noting mail delivery problems, recently said absentee ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 2 can be counted if they arrive within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election.
Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, have declined to appeal.