Coalition Files Suit Against Ruth Johnson's Citizenship Ballot Question

A group of voting rights advocates, labor unions and citizens filed a federal lawsuit Monday to prevent Secretary of State Ruth Johnson's citizenship question from appearing on ballot applications this fall.

The Detroit News reported the coalition fears  an "election day disaster in the making" if Johnson persists in placing her question on the applications.

The plaintiffs asked a federal judge to order Johnson and local election clerks to remove the question from the applications voters must fill out at the polls to receive a ballot.

The question: "Are you a United States citizen?"  

The lawsuit claims Johnson is violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution after it was revealed some voters were asked the question and others were not during the Aug. 7 primary.