| The League opposes the “Secure MI Vote” petition being circulated and urges members not to sign. Do not be fooled by its “Require ID” slogan. Michigan has had a voter ID law since 1996. For more information on our voter ID law read this paper prepared by Promote the Vote of MI (scroll down to download the Voter Identification Report). Highlights of “Secure MI Vote” Petition: * Mandates that people disclose partial Social Security numbers when registering to vote (not currently required) * Restricts options for registered voters to verify their identity * Acceptable forms of photo ID would include a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, military ID, tribal ID or student ID issued by a university, junior college or community college; if not, voter is given an ID-only provisional ballot (eliminates the use of the affidavit) * Discards ballots of those who received an ID-only provisional ballot unless they provide an ID within 6 days of the election (eliminates the affidavit process) * Requires voters applying for an absentee ballot to include their driver’s license, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their application (not currently required) * Prohibits election officials from sending or providing absentee applications unless asked (currently clerks can mail applications and have applications available on the website) * Bans charitable contributions, including volunteer time, to help administer elections (currently charitable contributions and volunteers are allowed) * States that drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day (current law) * Mandates clerk offices be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the five weekdays leading up to the election to accept ballots OR that drop boxes be made available for return ballots (new requirement) * Spends $3 million providing free photo identification for those who declare need (new appropriation) * Allows the Legislature to adopt the legislation without a vote of the people and block a peoples’ referendum vote after adoption (by placing $3 M appropriation in the initiative, no referendum is allowed) To read the petition (so you know what to look for), go to Petition Affidavit (michigan.gov). |
Defenders of democracy
Defenders of democracy