Landlords in Michigan Fight Forced Provision of Voter Registration Forms to New Tenants

 It’s been 10 years in the making, but a family of East Lansing, Michigan, landlords finally have their day in court.
The Hagan family, represented by attorneys from the Thomas More Society, filed a civil rights complaint against the city on March 16, in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan.
The Hagans’ complaint centers on a 2013 city ordinance mandating landlords to provide new tenants with voter registration forms and “how to” information. It requests that the court declare portions of the ordinance unconstitutional and a violation of federal civil rights law.
The ordinance reads in part, “At the time occupancy is given … the owner or owners’ legal agent must provide … information on how to register to vote and the requirements to register, [a] notice that election information and further registration information is available on the Secretary of State’s website as well as the City’s website … and a copy of the State of Michigan Voter Registration Application.” And finally, “A violation of this section shall be deemed a civil infraction.”…}