The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Michigan Republican Party are suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) over what they allege is “incomplete” guidance from her office on how election clerks should verify absentee ballots.

The case marks the RNC’s 16th voting-related lawsuit as Republicans amp up their election litigation ahead of the presidential race. It’s also the RNC’s fifth case in Michigan. This complaint takes issue with Benson’s guidance to election clerks, which she issued in February of 2024 and which plaintiffs say is at odds with Michigan election laws. 

Plaintiffs say the document doesn’t inform clerks of all of their requirements under the law, which stipulates that “written or stamped on each absent voter ballot return envelope must be the date” on which the absent voter ballot return envelope was received by the city or township clerk and must also contain “a statement by the city or township clerk that the absent voter ballot is approved for tabulation.”

If a clerk determines the elector’s signature is missing or doesn’t match the signature on file, “the clerk shall reject the absent voter ballot and provide the elector with notice and the opportunity to cure the deficiency.”

Despite this framework, the plaintiffs say, “it appears that local clerks may not be complying with the requirement to mark absent voter ballot envelopes with a statement that the voter’s signature has been verified.”

The complaint cites an alleged instance in which plaintiffs “recently learned that thousands of absent voter ballots were apparently tabulated during the August 6, 2024 primary election in Warren, Michigan, despite the complete absence of a statement by the clerk on the corresponding return envelope that the absent voter ballot is approved for tabulation …”

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in state court seeks a ruling that prevents Benson from implementing her ballot-processing guidance and issuing new guidelines ahead of the Nov. 5 election, and also declares that city and township clerks must comply with procedural rules on ballot-counting that are prescribed in Michigan law. Director of Elections Jonathan Brater is also a defendant.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said Thursday that Benson’s guidance “will undermine protections for absentee voters, leading to improper handling and counting of absentee ballots.”

The plaintiffs said in the suit that there’s “ample time” for expedited proceedings to resolve the matter before the Nov. 5 election.

Read the lawsuit here.

Read more about the case here.

Arkansas State is out to its first 2-0 start in a long time under former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones. The Red Wolves have been in some shootouts so far this year with both Central Arkansas and Tulsa. But Arkansas State has found ways to win both games and the Red Wolves are entering the Big House this weekend.

Michigan, on the other hand, is coming off of a big loss to Texas last weekend. The Wolverines are hoping to right their wrongs against an undermatched Arkansas State team. The Red Wolves may come from the Sun Belt, but as Jones said earlier this week, his team is going to dig, watch the Texas tape, and see if his team has any sort of advantage they can use on Saturday.

Saturday will make the first-ever matchup between the two programs. The game will be aired on Big Ten Network and will kick at Noon ET.

Here are some stats to look at along with some noteable Arkansas State players to watch.

2024 stat comparison:

Scoring offense: Michigan (103rd) 21 PPG — Arkansas State (68th) 31 PPG

Scoring defense: Michigan (70th) 20.5 PPG — Arkansas State (102nd) 27.5 PPG

Passing offense: Michigan (113th) 162.5 YPG — Arkansas State (37th) 286 YPG

Passing defense: Michigan (98th) 240.5 YPG — Arkansas State (70th) 198 YPG

Rushing offense: Michigan (101st) 114 YPG — Arkansas State (85th) 140.5 YPG

Rushing defense: Michigan (25th) 76 YPG — Arkansas State (115th) 199 YPG

Total offense: Michigan (120th) 276.5 YPG — Arkansas State (52nd) 426.5 YPG

Total defense: Michigan (70th) 316.5 YPG — Arkansas State (100th) 397 YPG

Turnovers Lost: Michigan 4 — Arkansas State 4

Turnovers Gained: Michigan 2 — Arkansas State 2

Sacks Allowed: Michigan 2 — Arkansas State 4

Sacks: Michigan 3 — Arkansas State 2

2024 PFF comparison:

Overall grade: Michigan (63rd) 81.2 — Arkansas State (108th) 69.4

Offense: Michigan (70th) 70.7 — Arkansas State (109th) 64.0

Passing: Michigan (40th) 78.1 — Arkansas State (108th) 62.0

Pass block: Michigan (117th) 55.0 — Arkansas State (102nd) 60.7

Running: Michigan (46th) 77.2 — Arkansas State (87th) 69.9

Run block: Michigan (45th) 67.1 — Arkansas State (100th) 57.6

Defense: Michigan (92nd) 70.3 — Arkansas State (117th) 64.8

Run defense: Michigan (43rd) 79.5 — Arkansas State (114th) 65.7

Pass rush: Michigan (45th) 69.7 — Arkansas State (72nd) 65.5

Coverage: Michigan (114th) 60.5 — Arkansas State (115th) 60.2

Top Arkansas State players to know:

QB Jaylen Raynor: Raynor is a true dual-threat athlete at quarterback for the Red Wolves. He has thrown for 572 yards, three scores, and two interceptions through the air in two games. Raynor has also rushed for a team-high 122 yards and two scores on the ground. Raynor will test the Michigan linebackers on Saturday.

RB Zak Wallace: As important as Raynor is to the Arkansas State ground game, Wallace is a major part as well. The true bell-cow of the running backs, Wallace has run for 119 yards and two scores for the Red Wolves. The read-option is a big part of the Red Wolves’ offense.

WR Corey Rucker: The 6-foot receiver has dominated the touches and yardage through the air. Rucker is the only receiver who has double-digit receptions sitting at 13 catches on the season. He has a whopping 239 yards and two scores for Arkansas State. Rucker is averaging 18.3 yards per reception.

DE Jayden Jones: The big 6-foot-5, 265-pound lineman has four tackles through two games. But he is leading Arkansas State with 1.5 TFLs and one sack through two games.

LB Charles Willekes: After a 90-tackle campaign in 2023, Willekes is back in 2024 and he’s already racking up the tackles. The linebacker is tied for a team-high 17 tackles in two games. Willekes also has a .5 TFL to his name as well.

S Justin Parks: Parks is the best defender Arkansas State has and is tied with Charles Willekes with 17 tackles on the season. The hard-hitting safety also has forced a fumble for the Arkansas State defense through two games.

– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –

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KENOSHA, Wis. — Authorities have recovered the body of a diver who went missing while exploring a Lake Michigan shipwreck.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that authorities recovered the body of 72-year-old Patrick Kelly of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, from the area around the S.S. Wisconsin on Wednesday morning.

READ MORE: Scuba diver goes missing while exploring old Lake Michigan shipwreck in Kenosha County, Wisconsin

The agency said Kelly had been exploring the wreck in more than 120 feet of water about six miles off the coast of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, on Tuesday when he failed to resurface as scheduled. His wife was on the couple’s boat and sent a distress call.

Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, responded but had to suspend their search due to poor lake conditions. They resumed their efforts Wednesday morning and eventually located the body using sonar and several remotely operated robotic vehicles.

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The S.S. Wisconsin was a steamer that sank in 1929 during a gale. Nine crew members were killed. The captain was pulled from the water but later died on shore, according to the Wisconsin Shipwrecks website.