Congressman John Conyers does not have enough signatures to be on August Primary ballot
Posted: 5:15 PM, May 9, 2014
Updated: 26 mins ago
- 7 Action News has learned that Congressman John Conyers does not have enough signatures to be on the next ballot.
A staff report from the Wayne County Clerk's Office, concluded that Conyers does not have enough signatures after a challenge determined some of the signatures were invalid. Out of 2,000 collected signatures, 764 were tossed out and 644 are being challenged. That leaves just 592 signatures. 1,000 signatures are needed, which makes Conyers' petition invalid.
Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett will make a final determination on Wednesday, May 14.
One of the people who circulated petitions for Conyers is 23 year old Daniel Pennington. His petitions were not allowed because his voter registration happened after he submitted his petitions, according to Detroit City Clerk records. Pennington is also an ex-con on the run. He talked with 7 Action News Investigator Jim Kiertzner to try to clear his name.
John Conyers has been in Congress since Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States, but today came word that after 50 years on Capitol Hill, his name might not even be on the next ballot.
The controversy began after the validity of signatures came in question. These signatures were gathered by Conyers' team and were necessary for a candidate to appear on the ballot. Conyers needed 1,000, and he turned in well more than that.
But law requires that the people who collect those signatures must be registered to vote themselves at the time they turn the signatures in. Otherwise, they will not count.
Conyers' challenger Rev. Horace Sheffield complained to the clerk, alleging two petitioners on Conyers' team weren't registered to vote at the time they collected those signatures, and the congressman should be thrown off the ballot.
Conyers can file a legal challenge through the Secretary of State.