A Michigan judge last night struck down a directive from the Michigan secretary of state that prohibited the open carry of firearms near polling locations and absentee counting boards on Election Day. (State laws that ban concealed carry at certain locations, such as schools or churches, will remain in effect.) State Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office would appeal the decision.
Conversation around voter intimidation has taken on new urgency this cycle. While experts in election law and in armed groups told FiveThirtyEight’s Maggie Koerth they don’t believe the risk of armed or threatening poll disruptors is the greatest threat to the election, they pointed out that the fear of voter intimidation could, itself, intimidate voters.