About half of the Republican campaigns for Michigan governor are in question

About half of the Republican campaigns for Michigan governor are in question

Transcript¹

The Michigan elections bureau says five Republican candidates for Michigan governor can't appear on the ballot² because of invalid³ signatures on their nominating petitions.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

In Michigan, there's drama surrounding the August primary. The state's elections bureau said about half of the Republican candidates vying⁴ to be the next governor should not be on the ballot because of fraud. Michigan Public Radio's Colin Jackson explains what happened and potential next steps.

COLIN JACKSON, BYLINE⁵: New reports from Michigan election staff allege⁶ signature fraud and other issues were a big enough problem to push five of the campaigns below the 15,000-signature threshold to qualify for the ballot. But Michigan Department of State spokesperson Tracy Wimmer says the reports aren't the last say.

TRACY WIMMER: These reports are just that - recommendations. Final determinations will be made by the Board of State Canvassers on Thursday.

JACKSON: That's an independent bipartisan group appointed by the governor. Many campaigns typically hire companies to help them meet the signature threshold. The reports note paid gatherers made as much as $20 per signature on average, due to competition and a lack of in-person events.

Republican Michael Brown ended his campaign after news of possible fraud broke.

MICHAEL BROWN: I saw that there was fraudulent circulators that had worked on my petitions early and then went to another company on the money grab and did some alleged⁷ illegal activity.

JACKSON: Criminal charges are possible for those who submitted sheets that contained rows of similar handwriting, sometimes only switching gel pen colors. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says her office is waiting on a referral from the Bureau of Elections.

DANA NESSEL: It is our expectation that we likely will, given the circumstances of what occurred during the submission⁸ of these signatures.

JACKSON: The reports say there is no reason to believe campaigns were aware of fraud. Yet the scope of the problem is startling to some political observers. Zach Gorchow of Gongwer News Service Michigan wonders why more candidates didn't submit the maximum number of signatures allowed.

ZACH GORCHOW: You're always going to have some invalid signatures, people who aren't registered voters, or maybe they signed another governor candidate's petition before yours so they don't count. That's standard.

JACKSON: Despite that, litigation is still likely.

For NPR News, I'm Colin Jackson in Lansing.

(SOUNDBITE OF TINGVALL TRIO'S "SEVILLA")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

4 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

5 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

6 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。