The Republican National Committee has filed a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, seeking to strip voting rights from U.S. citizens living overseas—including the children and spouses of Michigan residents and active-duty military personnel.

These are citizens who, through no fault of their own, live abroad because of military deployment, diplomatic service, or family life. Many have deep ties to Michigan through a parent, spouse, or legal guardian who lived in the state. Under current Michigan law, they have the right to vote if they meet specific eligibility requirements—including not being registered to vote anywhere else in the U.S.

But now, the RNC is pushing a legal argument that these voters—people who have never resided in Michigan but have direct familial ties—should be barred from participating in the very democracy their families often sacrifice so much to protect. This lawsuit isn’t about protecting the integrity of elections. It’s about narrowing who gets to vote, even when courts have previously upheld these laws as constitutional.

We’ve seen this tactic before: creating confusion, undermining public trust, and chipping away at access to the ballot under the guise of protecting “election integrity.” But no system is made stronger by silencing citizens who have a legal right to vote.

Let’s be clear: U.S. citizens living abroad, including military families, have always been part of our democratic process. And Michigan’s election system is already equipped with safeguards to ensure only eligible votes are counted.

We call on the RNC and Michigan GOP to drop this politically motivated lawsuit. Instead of wasting time and taxpayer dollars on legal attacks, they should support the fundamental right of every eligible citizen to vote—no matter where they live.

Sign this petition to stand with overseas voters and protect the future of free and fair elections in Michigan.

Photo: Ben Orner | MLive.com