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Benson says open carry of guns will be banned at polling places

Openly carried firearms will not be allowed at polling places.

       Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says she’s using her authority to ensure fair and orderly elections.

Spokesman Jake Rollow says the directive will help ensure people can vote without feeling threatened during a very heated election. The directive says openly carried guns won’t be allowed within 100 feet of a polling place, clerks’ offices where absentee ballots are dropped off, and where absentee ballot counting boards meet.

“You can’t be intimidated, and open carry is one of the things that can be intimidating, and so that is actually not allowed in the context of a voting location.”

“Just being worried about something happening doesn’t entitle you to unilaterally trounce everyone’s rights.”

       Tom Lambert of the group Michigan Open Carry says the policy violates the 1st and 2nd Amendments, but he says it may too late to litigate the issue before Election Day.

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