Judge won't stop absentee voter application mailings

A judge has refused to stop the secretary of state from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications to millions of voters. Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens rejected a request for a preliminary injunction. Stephens says an application is merely an application - and can be thrown away if someone doesn't want to act on it. The plaintiffs, Yvonne Black and Nevin Cooper-Keel, are Republican candidates for the state House. Cooper-Keel said the applications are a ploy to encourage early voting and rob him of an opportunity to campaign. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has defended the absentee ballot application as a way for people to avoid the risk for the coronavirus at a polling place.