While the loudest criticism against a GOP effort in Michigan to change the state's election laws has targeted its proposed strict voter ID rules, clerks worry that the Secure MI Vote. LANSING Michigan Republicans are launching a petition drive to tighten state voting laws following a combative 2020 election marked by former President Donald Trump's false claims of widespread fraud. If lawmakers do not take action within 40 session days, the proposed law will appear on the ballot. Clerks biggest concern is that the new requirement threatens to disenfranchise voters. Whitmer vetoes election bills aimed at overhauling voter ID rules, Petition to overhaul voter ID laws receives state board approval to collect signatures, Whitmer vetoes election bills, saying they 'fail to advance' safe and secure elections, Michigan House Republicans pass bill aimed at expediting review of petition initiatives, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In Michigan, citizen-initiated statutes that receive enough valid signatures are sent to the Legislature, which then has 40 days to pass the initiative into law. The number of required signatures varies depending on initiative type, and is based on the number of votes cast for the governor in the states last election. The Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature recently attempted to pass stricter voting laws, similar to what is being proposed by Secure MI Vote. Prohibit the Michigan Secretary of State and local election clerks from sending absentee ballot applications to voters who did not request them. Thats the plan for Secure MI Vote, but the committee is facing a tight timeline to change any laws by the 2022 election, when Republicans hope to unseat Whitmer and fellow Democrats like Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel. The "Secure MI Vote" petition is a deceptive effort to silence the voice of the people. The master list of eligible voters is linked with public records. The current system allows voters without an ID to sign a written affidavit to be able to cast ballots. Opponents say if approved the move would further disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. He told the Free Press later that tweaks could help clerks comply with the new rules while maintaining online and easy access to applications. Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat who also co-chairs the clerks associations legislative committee, wrote in an email that the initiative has "no regard for how the voters could practically and legally carry out this language if it was approved.". We report because the news impacts all of us. The 'Secure MI Vote' petition is an attempt to change voting laws, by ignoring the will of the people of Michigan and going around the checks and balances of a constitutional government.. Lisa D. Connell. The petition was submitted by Secure MI Vote, a Republican-backed committee looking to add steps and security measures to voting procedures. Michigan is one of two states with a constitutional provision that expressly prohibits the governor from vetoing resident-initiated legislation that is adopted by the Legislature instead. The Secure MI Vote initiative would also bar in-kind contributions. LANSING, Mich. The Secure MI Vote campaign says theyre confident they have enough signatures to get their initiative to the legislature. 3 talking about this. Organizers propose that $3 million is allocated to that fund for the fiscal year ending in September of 2022. Our elections are secure, Secure MI Vote is about making voting harder, which affects all voters. In Michigan, anyone can vote absentee for any reason as of 2018 -- and many chose to do so for elections that took place in 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. But clerks worry that conflicting requirements proposed by the initiative would cause confusion. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed similar proposals. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, High school highlights: Lady Bulldogs fall to Salesian College Preparatory. What about sponsors for rides to polls? While the loudest criticism against a GOP effort in Michigan to change the state's election laws has targeted its proposed strict voter ID rules, clerks worry that the Secure MI Vote petition initiative would usher in other far-reaching changes.. Secure MI Vote is looking to prevent state and local election officials from accepting election funding from parties outside of the government. I hope it rarely ever happens, but the fact of the matter is it should never happen, Roe said. Spies said it was a "misdirection to think that anybody is not going to get clear instructions on how to vote." Those affidavits are then reviewed and either approved or rejected by election officials. We arent there yet. If this campaign fails, the effort could be dead on arrival. Secure MI Vote filed petition language with the Michigan Bureau of Elections back in September and getting the initiative off the ground has been a smooth process so far, said Spokesman Jamie Roe. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. The group submitted more than 400,000 signatures, Lenear said. Prohibit outside corporate entities from funding Michigan elections. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved petition language on Monday, allowing Secure MI Vote to begin seeking signatures to approve voting restrictions as a citizen initiative. You are checked for an absentee ballot so you cant vote twice. The "Secure MI Vote" committee on Monday was expected to file proposed petition language with the Michigan Secretary of State that would make identification mandatory for in-person and absentee voting, prohibit absentee ballot application mass mailings and bar election funding by private groups. "Its going to be what some judge thinks and what administrators think that it says. With a number of petition initiatives floating around Michigan this year, we want to make sure youre familiar with all of the facts. Spies accused "partisan extremists"of "trying to change the subject and create false issues to distract from voter ID.". In this Nov. 3, 2020, photo, voters wait in line outside a polling center on Election Day, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File), (Wong Maye-E, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. "You know, the citizens legislative initiative system in Michigan is difficult and it should be difficult because we are trying to change state law.. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Thousands upon thousands of signatures were collected for the Secure MI Vote petition. Michigan charges $10 for an ID and already has a program to waive those fees for low-income residents receiving state aid. LANSING, MI The Secure MI Vote committee can begin collecting signatures to tighten voter ID laws after the Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the group's petition language Monday. What we are trying to do here is just restore the confidence and the belief in the integrity of the system, said spokesperson Jamie Roe, a GOP consultant who is working on the new committee along with veteran Republican operative Fred Wszolek. Make your contribution today to fund more vetted news reports throughout mid-Michigan! I will have no part in any effort that grants an ounce of credence to this deception (the Big Lie), so injurious to our democracy, Whitmer wrote in a letter to legislators last month. Hand recounts and. The Board approved the petition form on September 27, 2021. Petition summary approved by the Board of State Canvassers on : November 15, 2021. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If they don't enact the initiative, it goes to a statewide vote. Here's an overview of the checks in place to prevent voter fraud. The State Board of Canvassers have granted Secure MI Vote a bogus approval for a misleading petition drive. And while most election workers throughout the state are paid, some volunteer their time to support clerks with election-related tasks. In June, Secure MI Vote missed the deadline to turn in signatures in time for this years election. Gov. None of the major legislative proposals have reached Whitmer. We all need to vote NO on Proposal 2 on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The Secure MI Vote campaign says theyre confident they have enough signatures to get their initiative to the legislature. [1] See also 2022 measures 2022 ballot measures Constitutional rights on the ballot Elections and campaigns on the ballot 2022 legislative sessions Michigan Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The campaign Michigan Right to Vote filed a petition with the State Board of Canvassers on January 21, 2022. [1], The ballot initiative would also prohibit private funds and in-kind contributions from individuals and entities for state or local election administration purposes, such as election equipment, voter registration, mailing of election materials, election advertising, and recruiting and hiring precinct elections inspectors. A group of students wants to stop Gov. Hand recounts and audits proved our elections are secure. On July 29, 2022, Secure MI Vote submitted 514,294 signatures. The Board approved the petition form on September 27, 2021.[1]. Individuals hoping to vote absentee using an absent voter ballot wouldnt have to show a physical copy of their photo ID under the proposal, but they would be required to write their drivers license number or the last four digits of their social security number on their ballot to confirm their identity. So far this year, officials in Georgia and 17 other states have enacted a combined 30 laws that restrict access to voting in some way, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. Bradshaw voted to approve the petition form Monday, but only because of her constitutional duty to do so, she said, adding that Michigan does already have a voter ID law. Citizen led drive to secure Michigan's elections. So, while we are waiting on Secretary Benson to do her job and approve our signatures, we are stepping up to the plate to work hard to defeat Proposal 2. The proposed ballot measure is an indirect initiated state statute. ALPENA, Mich. - One organization says they're trying to make sure voting is fair and balanced in the state. Private organizations would not be able to donate money or in-kind contributions toward any activity or item related to an election. Workers from P&G Power prepare to replace a pair of isolating switches on Stadium Boulevard near Brockman Boulevard in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. Ojai City Council districts. 3 min read The Secure MI Vote petition suggests Michigan's voting process is not secure, and that to 'fix it' voting must be harder. Instead, under their proposal, voters who cannot present valid identification would vote using a provisional ballot. Michigan faces conference rival Wisconsin. Absent Voter Ballot application available - Thursday, Feb. 16th. I just dont feel that this petition is necessary, it actually hinders our voting instead of promoting voting, Bradshaw said in an interview after the meeting. The state of Michigan already requires residents to present photo identification when registering to vote, and voters are required to present photo ID when voting in person. On December 28, 2022, the petition was withdrawn by Secure MI Vote.[3]. The Trump campaign filed the most post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 United States presidential election in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In 1957, the Supreme Court, in Butler v. Michigan, overturned a Michigan statute making it a misdemeanor to sell books containing obscene language that would tend to corrupt "the morals of youth." But organizers of the GOP petition drive say their plan would make that process easier and help the state pay for it. But language that would be added to the application takes that option off the table. The Bureau of Elections Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections responds to and assists individuals with disabilities attempting to vote. Wit received nearly $12,000 and used the money to increase pay for some workers and bring in part-time staff to handle a record number of absentee ballots. "The proposals that we're making I. Citizen ballot measures can be called . Lawmakers can choose whether or not to put initiative petition proposals on the ballot. But filling out an application for another voter is already a crime, and theres no evidence the mailings led to any significant ballot fraud last year. More than 400 such bills have been introduced in 49 states. Gretchen Whitmer's signature. And so then its just more election litigation, more voter confusion.". Those concerns are unfounded, said Secure MI Vote spokesperson Jamie Roe. Dallas Lenear, the group's treasurer, said that in most Michigan counties there are more payday loan stores than McDonald's and they are disproportionately located in low-income and rural communities where residentsstruggle to afford the high interest rates currently charged. The secretary of state defended her actions, however, arguing that it was necessary to present a remote voting option amid the ongoing public health crisis. While the loudest criticism against a GOP effort in Michigan to change the state's election laws has targeted itsproposed strict voter ID rules, clerks worry that the Secure MI Vote petition initiative would usher in other far-reaching changes. If the signatures hold up, a Republican-controlled legislature could adopt the changes into law before the election. The committee's leaders reasoned they wanted more time to make sure the signatures they did collect would stand up to scrutiny. Pursuant to state law the Ojai City Council will take the second finalizing vote on amending the city's Reach Code ordinance that bans natural gas infrastructure in new construction. Initiative organizers are hoping to send their proposal directly to Michigans GOP-majority Legislature for approval if enough signatures are gathered. Michigan Democrats have promised that any bills that attempt to place new restrictions on voting won't get past Gov. The Secure MI Vote committee on Monday was expected to file proposed petition language with the Michigan Secretary of State that would make identification mandatory for in-person and absentee voting, prohibit absentee ballot application mass mailings and bar election funding by private groups. The Secure MI Vote initiative that proposes new voter ID requirements, election funding restrictions and a ban on unsolicited mailings of absentee ballot applications announced a similar. It is uncertain how many signatures have been acquired so far. Thus they launched the "Protect the Vote" initiative that is now on YOUR November 2022 ballot. But the two agreed thatorganizations could continue to conduct election-related activities such as voter registration drives on their own, just not in partnership with clerks offices. Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. TheSecure MI Vote initiative that proposes newvoter ID requirements,electionfunding restrictions and a ban on unsolicited mailings of absentee ballot applications announced a similar plan. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. The initiative states that voters must provide their driver license number, state ID card number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their absentee ballot application. Secure MI Vote spokesperson Jamie Roe said that leaves room for fraud. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. The results were certified and officially audited by trusted local election officials, as required by law. Meanwhile, a proposed constitutional amendment from the group Promote the Vote is in direct contrast to the voting restrictions in Secure MI Vote's proposed initiative. On Oct. 17, Whitmer vetoed two more bills aimed at making sweeping changes to the states election code -- the latest of dozens the governor has vowed will stop at her desk. Meanwhile, two high-profile Republican-backed initiative petitionsvowed to continue collecting signatures and file their petition forms in the coming weeks in hopes that state election officials will review them quickly despite blowing past the deadline. Depending on the type of initiative, if petition organizers collect the required number of signatures, their proposal would either go to the state legislature for approval, or directly on the ballot of the next general election for voters to decide on. It is not about election security. Nebraska became . The amendment would make the Secure MI Vote initiative moot, if voters approve it in November. Getting it done by the end of the year is a very daunting hurdle, Roe acknowledged. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The proposal focuses on a few key points: Lets break down these points and their significance a bit more. Secure MI Vote would require absentee voters to also write either their state ID number or the last four digits of their SSN on the ballot, which elections officials would verify along with the. Gretchen Whitmer and implement a host of voting reforms that opponents say are tantamount to suppression. "Once you tell people what's in it, they're going to vote 'no.' It's clear and. State IDs cost $10 in Michigan, and the state already has a program to waive those fees for low-income residents who qualify for other forms of government assistance. After several recounts and analyses both locally and nationally, no widespread voter fraud was discovered in last years election. Here's why. "If you are going to their website, you are soliciting that application,"he said. 3 min read. Feb 26, 2023. The board is next scheduled to meet June 23. Michigan plot to breach voting machines points to a national pattern A state police inquiry found evidence of an election fraud conspiracy that has echoes elsewhere in the country By Patrick. It would also require absentee voters to provide either of these on absentee ballot applications. But those efforts were vetoed by Michigan Gov. Were pretty hopeful and optimistic here that we can get this process moving quickly, and get these enacted into law, Roe said. "As with all statutory language and laws, thereis some interpretation and that will have to be determined,"he said. Once you vote absentee for the first time, an application is mailed to you for each election in your area. (Bridge file photo) September 23, 2021 Jonathan Oosting ( Email) & Mike Wilkinson ( Email) Michigan Government Michigan Secretary of State, Gov. There have been accusations that dead people voted. It makes no mention of presenting a copy of an ID or showing one to county clerks. With a majority of the House and Senate supporting these citizen petitions, new laws will go into play making our elections secure. The bill numbers are 5513 through 5519. Here's more on that and why some groups say . For future generations and for the security for your own vote please help us. The state of Michigan recorded its highest voter turnout -- especially among absentee voters -- in history in the 2020 General Election. "I think something like this is best done through the normal legislative process,"he said. Because of a unique provision in the Michigan Constitution, GOP organizers can evade Whitmer by collecting at least 340,047 valid signatures to send the initiative to the Legislature, which could then enact it into law rather than send it to the 2022 ballot. There has to be adequate notice given to the public and an opportunity to review things so that meaningful debate and objection can occur, Trebilcock said. When youve passed all the tests, you are added to the Michigan master list of eligible voters and your signature is put on file. County clerks do not issue ballots and "allowing a voter to present a copy of their ID to the county clerk would truly not be effective,"Roebuck wrote in an email. In the 2020 presidential election, only 0.2% of Michiganders voted using a signed affidavit (without a photo ID), according to Bridge Michigan -- which is 11,400 votes out of 5.5 million total votes cast in the state. Independently operated voter helplines staffed by volunteers, for instance, might be considered in-kind contributions that help defray the costs of administering elections, she said. Roe said clerks wouldnt have to turn away these volunteers while Spies, the lawyer for Secure MI Vote, said there would need to be clarification on which volunteer activities remain permissible. In-person voters without a valid photo ID would instead be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, but it wouldnt count on Election Day and would only be tabulated if the voter returned to their local clerks office and presented a valid ID within six days after the election. That amendment campaign is awaiting a review of its signatures to see if it will make the 2022 ballot. 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