secure michigan vote petition

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan elections are secure, don't make voting harder, Michigan elections are secure, don't make voting harder, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden speaks to the House Democratic Caucus . Not only can lawmakers enact voter-initiated legislation without the governor's support, they can do so without the support of a majority of voters in a statewide election. Though Secure MI Vote is turning in its signatures for a question on the 2024 ballot, its unlikely the proposal would ever go before voters. Voting absentee: If your application passes the eligibility tests, a ballot is sent to you. A group of students wants to stop Gov. Michigan Require Voter ID and Prohibit Private Funding for Election Administration Purposes Initiative (2024), https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Michigan_Require_Voter_ID_and_Prohibit_Private_Funding_for_Election_Administration_Purposes_Initiative_(2024)&oldid=9045540, Not on the ballot future date statewide ballot measures, Did not make ballot, voting policy measures, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Secure MI Vote supporters argue that tighter photo ID laws would help prevent fraudulent voting. Republican-backed group files petition language for tightening voter ID, absentee rules in Michigan, Whitmer, Gilchrist & liberal activists prepping to fight Republican voting bills, potential petitions, Michigan Senate GOP debuts election reforms critical of Secretary of States handling of November election. Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. I'm not one who's been out there crying about that the election was stolen I dont believe it was but I do believe that there are people who think that it was just as there are people who thought wrongly after 2016 that that election was stolen, Roe said. (AP) Nebraska lawmakers held a public hearing Wednesday on competing bills to address ways to enact a voter ID requirement approved by voters last November. The "Secure MI Vote" petition is making its way around Michigan communities. 2022 election first.". Republicans contend the mailings opened the door to potential voter fraud, and they accurately note that some applications were inadvertently sent to an address where the intended voter no longer lived. We needed to be able to give, not only for the lawyers in the room, but everyday people who may not understand this process fully.. The Secure MI Vote initiative is considered an initiated state statute (ISS), which means it will require just over 340,000 signatures to be considered valid. It was a strategic decision to file lawsuits in these states that were too close to call during the night of election day and remained uncalled for a few days. The state of Michigan recorded its highest voter turnout -- especially among absentee voters -- in history in the 2020 General Election. Estimates indicate places of worship accounted for roughlya fifth of polling locations in 2020. My suggested improvements: You should be able to vote seven days before the election at your clerks office. Among other changes the campaign aims to require a valid government ID to vote in the state and would prohibit the Michigan Secretary of State from mailing out unsolicited absentee ballots, both moves that opponents say will make it more difficult to vote. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Registration: You must prove citizenship, identity, and residency to register. What about counting early absentee ballots? The proposals could also appear on the ballot if the Legislature proposes a different measure on the same subject,placing both proposals on the ballot for voters to approve. Jamie Roe, a spokesperson for the Secure MI Vote initiative, called the Wednesday filing date "sort of an artificial deadline" and said that state election officials could review signatures. 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. The 2020 election was free, secure, and accurate. Opponents say if approved, the Secure MI Vote ballot initiative would further disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. The group plans to hand over tho signatures to law enforcement and believes that some of the signatures were collected by the same circulators state election officials found committed forgery on nominating petitions filed by GOP gubernatorial candidates, Roe said. The petition mirrors bills introduced by Republican lawmakers in Michigan to beef up election security following false accusations by former President Trump and others that the 2020 November election was rigged.. 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. Charlie Spies, a lawyer for Secure MI Vote, said that future guidance would provide clarity, including how toimplement the new ID rules, the focus of the initiative, hesaid. Also on the Feb. 28 agenda is a discussion item on off-site valet parking. Though the fate of either effort has yet to be determined, legislative Republicans have said the fight over voter ID requirements wont stop even if the amendment passes. Thus they launched the "Protect the Vote" initiative that is now on YOUR November 2022 ballot. That prevents people from voting in two places such as two homes and college students. Select from these options: Neighborhood News, Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines, and Daily Forecasts. Elections in Michigan are underfunded and private funds helpedclerks fill the gap in 2020, said Chris Thomas, the former director of elections for Michigan. So, let's do something common sense that restores confidence in the system and empowers our clerks to do it right.. Wisconsin Badgers (16-11, 8-9 Big Ten) at Michigan Wolverines (16-12, 10-7 Big Ten) Ann Arbor, Michigan; Sunday, 2 . Instead, state and local governments would only be allowed to use money appropriated from the government on things like voting equipment, polling places, outreach, etc. 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. Opponents say if approved the move would further disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. 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. 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. The competition between efforts is not new. The approval to get 340,047 signatures would ban election officials from mailing absentee ballots to every voter of Michigan unless requested. [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. Before then, the highest number of absent voter ballots cast in Michigan was 1.3 million in the 2016 presidential election. Michigans Republican-led Senate proposed a more extensive and aggressive voting reform package in March, but the legislation was slowed by disagreements with the GOP-led House. The Michigan Board of Canvassers unanimously approved the form of the petition initiative submitted by the Republican-backed Secure MI Vote committee at a meeting Monday, Sept. 27. 09/03/2021 wbkb11. These are improvements popular with the public and do not jeopardize security. Thats according to the committee behind the proposed ballot question, Secure MI Vote. 3 talking about this. Dozens of staffers called on CEO Howard Schultz to revoke the company's return to office policy and allow unionization efforts to operate freely. Thousands of Michigan citizens worked hard for months to collect over 500,000 signatures: letting Michigan leaders know, we want safe and secure elections. Secure MI Vote is looking to prevent Benson, any local clerk or any of their employees from sending or providing access to unsolicited absent voter applications or ballots. "But the drafters dont really matter once its enacted. This petition basically restricts Michiganders right to vote. Here's why. Gretchen Whitmer. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. The Republican-backed petition was given the go ahead by the board to start collecting the 340,000 signatures needed to push the Secure MI ballot petition before the legislature. Reform of Michigan's petition certification process would facilitate a move by the state into the business of preparing voter guides to provide some explanation of the ballot . The initiative would bar the secretary of state, clerks and public employees from "sending or providing access" to absentee ballot applications to voters who don't first request one. It is not about election security. 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. But election clerks opposed similar legislation in Lansing, arguing the change is unnecessary because there is no evidence of significant absentee ballot fraud. Despite several reports from government and election officials finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Republican lawmakers and some voters are pushing for tighter voting laws across the U.S. -- including here in Michigan. The upcoming election year may look different if Michigan Republicans are successful in their petition to rewrite voting laws, and in theory, they could do it with only 8% of previous voters' signatures, according to the Michigan constitution.. Organizers say the proposal would reduce the potential for election fraud. 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. A poll bythe Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks found that itsmembers were "overwhelmingly"concerned about the initiative as its proposed, according toHarrison Township Clerk Adam Wit, a Republican, who sits on the group's legislative committee. 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 Promote the Vote ballot initiative comes after a Republican-backed petition, "Secure MI Vote" which would make election rules stricter in Michigan. Roe told Bridge Michigan the Secure MI Vote committee is focused on securing legislative approval rather than putting the measure on the 2022 ballot, which could trigger a very expensive campaign. Citing scores of audits, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, called the election one of the most secure in Michigan history. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the legislation, campaign to increase Michigan's minimum wage, Michigan to a coalition of states aiming to decide presidential elections by the popular vote instead of the Electoral College, same circulators state election officials found committed forgery, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Getting it done by the end of the year is a very daunting hurdle, Roe acknowledged. A more likely scenario: Any new voting laws approved through the initiative process would instead take effect in 2023 and be operative for the 2024 election, when Trump could again seek a second term. The new Michigan initiative is not about Trump or any particular individual, said Roe, the GOP consultant who is working as a spokesperson for the petition committee. More than 400 such bills have been introduced in 49 states. Roe called such claims nonsense and touted polling suggesting most Michigan voters support the reform. The second session of annual town meeting, or the business meeting, begins at 7 p.m. at Shelburne Town Hall, 74 Village Road . 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. Organizers behind the campaign showed up with stacks of boxes with petition forms outside the state's Bureau of Elections office. Places that have provided free access to their space during elections "are just good community partners trying to be civically minded,"Wit said. I find that objectionable and I think that lacks adequate fairness to the public and opposing committees., Trebilcock encouraged the board to delay the vote, saying the initiative is being pushed for no reason other than political ends., Republican board member Tony Daunt told Trebilcock that there simply is not a rush here., Were back here because we all agreed to handle some important mistakes that were made by the Secure MI Vote folks, Daunt said. Lisa D. Connell. Roe, the group's spokesperson,said clerks would have to paychurches and places of worship that currently provide access to their space for free to serve as polling locations. It is uncertain how many signatures have been acquired so far. Yet, it won't be on the November ballot. Help us get there. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. In order to get the proposed legislation in front of lawmakers or on the ballot,sponsors of these petition initiatives had to collect at least 340,047 voter signatures. Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck, a Republican who co-chairs the Michigan Association of County Clerks legislative committee, said the language "represents at best a couple of significant typos, but at worst a lack of understanding of the process itself." Theinitiative would require clerks to pay churches that serve as polling locations, according to organizers. More:Michigan clerks concerned . If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. On December 28, 2022, the petition was withdrawn by Secure MI Vote. Right now Michigan requires an ID or a signed affidavit that is compared to the voter's signature on file. LANSING, MI The Secure MI Vote committee can begin collecting signatures to tighten voter ID laws after the Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the groups petition language Monday morning. The American Civil Liberties Union says that strict ID voting laws not only disproportionately affect minorities, but also deprive many voters of their right to vote, reduce participation, and stand in direct opposition to our countrys trend of including more Americans in the democratic process.. Ms. Benson said only 15,300 absentee ballots were. Support WKAR and get ad-free versions of your favorite NPR podcasts. The language could arguably be interpreted as a blanket ban. Under Michigan election law, the sponsor of an initiative, referendum, or constitutional amendment petition may request approval of the summary of the purpose of the petition prior to placing the petition in circulation. The Michiganders for Fair Lendingproposal would cap interest rates on payday loans at a 36% annual percentage rate. Republicans launch secure MI vote drive to reform Michigan election laws, Were so angry. MSU students urge gun safety at Lansing hearing, MSU police cant explain 13-minute alert gap, remain mum on shooting details, Michigan Democrats begin repeal of 1931 abortion ban, Share the article you just read on Twitter, Share the article you just read on Facebook, Share the article you just read via email, Michigan has far more power outages this week than other Midwest states, Michigan outraged toxic waste from Ohio derailment shipped to Belleville, MSU shooting: fourth victim identified, discharged from hospital, Michigans lousy infrastructure has many begging: Fix the damn noisy roads, Michigan lawmakers send Whitmer tax cuts; $180 payments are dead, Michigan State shooting: Alerts to students delayed as police rushed to campus. "Theres nothing that compels the board given everything else that they have on the plate in a very busy election year… to deal with something for the 2024 election. Visit the FOX47News Website. And so then its just more election litigation, more voter confusion.". Learn more & donate at securemivote.org The Secure MI Vote petition suggests Michigans voting process is not secure, and that to fix it voting must be harder. Ann Arbor City Clerk Jacqueline Beaudry, who's appointed,said that organizations on University of Michigans campus help register voters and manage lines at satellite clerks offices and polling locations. Conservatives called the money "Zuck Bucks" and said the fundsopened the door to outside influence in the election. Unless they have plans to spend just a ton of money per signature and flood the streets to get the signatures quickly, its hard to imagine that they can get 350,000 plus enough cushion in order to have it certified by the Secretary of State in calendar year 2020, said Jeff Timmer, a former Michigan GOP official who opposes Trump and the effort to tighten voting laws. Office of the Great Seal. With a number of petition initiatives floating around Michigan this year, we want to make sure youre familiar with all of the facts. 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. [1], The campaign Secure MI Vote filed a petition with the State Board of Canvassers on September 2, 2021. The bureau is preparing to administer two statewide elections and has an obligation to review petition initiatives that were submitted by the Wednesday filing deadline ahead of the 2022 election, Liedel said. In 2020, people died after they sent in their absentee ballot and before Election Day. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. "The proposals that we're making I. Were pretty hopeful and optimistic here that we can get this process moving quickly, and get these enacted into law, Roe said. 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. Create a new voter access fund with $3 million to provide free state ID cards to residents who may struggle to obtain one because of financial hardships. Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser first outlined the plan in March as an effort to rebuild trust among GOP voters ahead of midterm elections. 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. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed similar proposals. Critics argue that ID requirements like those outlined in Secure MI Votes initiative would put a burden on voters who do not have IDs and cannot easily obtain them, specifically older and low-income populations. 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