The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that Michigan’s January 15 primary can proceed as planned with voter records being given to the two major political parties to use at their discretion.

In overturning a Sept. 16th appeals court decision, the Supreme Court said the statute served the public interest and should stand, regardless of concerns about ownership of voter records. “The Supreme Court rubber stamped the bill passed and signed in early September.  There will be a primary on January 15 and the parties will get the lists,”said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics.

Ballenger thinks the prospect of legislation changing things is remote “We’re going to have a primary.  Any legislation is irrelevant,” he said. “The legislature is divided and gutless on this whole issue. They aren’t even in session this week. They had two weeks to work on this and weren’t even in town. They gave up.”