A judge in Detroit suspended the law, saying it violates the rights of black voters. Attorney General Bill Schuette filed an emergency appeal Wednesday to try to freeze that decision.

Critics who won the injunction have been ordered by the court to respond by Monday. Ballots for the fall election must be printed soon.

The Nov. 8 election would be the first affected by the law, passed by Republicans. The law ends straight-party voting, the ability to vote for candidates of one party with a single mark, from president to county commissioner.

Straight-party voting is popular in Michigan cities with large black populations, which tend to vote for Democrats.