Overview
- The Michigan Court of Appeals, which ruled Friday in a 2–1 decision, ordered the 37 absentee ballots reviewed under challenged-voter procedures and sent the case back to the trial court.
- Mayor Adam Alharbi and the city said they will seek a stay and appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, arguing the ballots were compromised due to a broken chain of custody.
- Alharbi was certified the winner after a recount by 11 votes over Muhith Mahmood, so counting 37 more ballots could shift who holds the office.
- Three days after Election Day, officials found 37 absentee ballots opened but still in their envelopes in the city clerk’s office after unauthorized entry broke custody protocols.
- The county canvassing board had left the ballots out and a judge backed that move, but the appeals court cited the 1989 Gracey precedent to say timely ballots should be treated as challenged and counted.