The committee plans to turn in the petition language to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, which is the first step in the pursuit of a new initiative. 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. It is not about election security. Theinitiative would require clerks to pay churches that serve as polling locations, according to organizers. Whitmer, a Democrat, who has vowed to veto a number of Republican-proposed election bills, would have no ability to stop the Legislature from adopting the initiative should the petition drive garner enough support. 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. If legislators were to approve such a measure, it would not go on the ballot. 5. Trebilcock pointed to the fact that the petition summary was approved late Friday afternoon and the board came back to vote on the form Monday morning. (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 proposal could make it harder for some people to vote, and clerks have raised concerns that requiring voters to mail their state ID numbers could make them more susceptible to identity theft. Petition summary approved by the Board of State Canvassers on : November 15, 2021. Hand recounts and audits proved our elections are secure. [1] See also 2022 measures 2022 ballot measures Constitutional rights on the ballot Elections and campaigns on the ballot 2022 legislative sessions Michigan Eliminating the option would make it harder for some Michiganders to vote. The Secure MI Vote initiative would prohibit private election funding, strengthen in-person ID rules, create a new $3 million "voter access fund . Clerks across Michigan received money from the Center for Tech and Civic Life in 2020. Absent voter ballots allow residents to vote by mail ahead of Election Day. LANSING, Mich. The Secure MI Vote campaign says they're confident they have enough signatures to get their initiative to the legislature. "We're going to be patient in achieving our goals because the stakes for our children are so high," said Let MI Kids Learn spokesman Fred Wszolek. 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. While Republican lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Legislature have expressed support for the so-called Unlock Michigan II proposal, it's possible they could lose their majority in the upcoming November election. That proposal aims to expand voter access through things like an early in-person voting period and protections of the right to vote through a signed affidavit. The initiative petition process, however, allows lawmakers to pass the same proposals without the governor's support. Secure MI Vote petition makes voting harder, we need real improvement Craig Cumbow, guest writer View Comments The Secure MI Vote petition suggests Michigan's voting process is. 100% remote. Bensons sending of absent voter ballot applications last year drew criticism from GOP lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who initially believed she was sending unsolicited ballots, not applications. More:Michigan clerks concerned . Senate Republicans do not have the two-thirds majority needed to give legislation immediate effect, meaning Secure MI Vote would need to complete the petition process including signature collection and state review this year for the changes to take effect in 2022. You are checked for an absentee ballot so you cant vote twice. Organizers for other initiatives have already started looking to the next election,including a campaign to increase Michigan's minimum wage and another to add Michigan to a coalition of states aiming to decide presidential elections by the popular vote instead of the Electoral College. Related:Trust Index: Fact-checking claims regarding Michigans 2020 election. Gov. Streaming on ClickOnDetroit and Local 4+ from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays. Republicans on the Senate Oversight Committee in June debunked claims Trump and some of his supporters continue to make about Michigans 2020 election, which Democratic President Joe Biden won by 154,188 votes. There have been accusations that dead people voted. Gretchen Whitmer from directing $25 million to place police officers on campuses at 195 public school districts . By, Celebrate and explore Black History Month with WKAR. 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." 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. 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. Also on the Feb. 28 agenda is a discussion item on off-site valet parking. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Those campaigns have announced that they will try to make the 2024 ballot instead of putting their proposals before voters in the upcoming midterm. Spies accused "partisan extremists"of "trying to change the subject and create false issues to distract from voter ID.". Wisconsin Badgers (16-11, 8-9 Big Ten) at Michigan Wolverines (16-12, 10-7 Big Ten) Ann Arbor, Michigan; Sunday, 2 . Garlin . There were still 35 election-related bills making their way through the legislature as of October. [2] At least 340,047 signatures need to be valid. 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. Last year, the Republican-controlled state Senate and House passed the Unlock Michigan initiative petition to repeal the emergency powers law Whitmer used early on in the COVID-19 pandemic to issue health and safety restrictions. The Michigan Require Voter ID and Prohibit Private Funding for Election Administration Purposes Initiative will not appear on the ballot in Michigan as an indirect initiated state statute on November 5, 2024. 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. 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. Voters without an ID would have to present a copy of their birth certificate or Social Security card and documentation verifying their address. The petition was submitted by Secure MI Vote, a Republican-backed committee looking to add steps and security measures to voting procedures. She said. Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Hand recounts and. We repeat: If Proposal 2 wins in November elections will not be secure ever again. Raise the Wage, an effortto increase Michigan's minimum wage to $15 by 2027, expressed similar concerns about the recent discovery of the alleged signature fraud scheme. Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues. Rather than sign a petition to make voting harder for no reason, call your representative and senator and ask them to make real improvements. Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. 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. The nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life last year provided COVID-19 response grants to election officials across the country to buy absentee ballot drop boxes, hire more staff and implement safety measures to pull off a pandemic election. These are improvements popular with the public and do not jeopardize security. 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. Related: Deep Dive: What to know about Unlock Michigan petition drive. The additional cost imposed of having to now rent that space is a big question mark, she said. Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Citizen led drive to secure Michigan's elections. Initiative Petition . The petition process allows the proposal to be enacted without approval from the state's Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer. June 1, 2022 (5 p.m.) . However, the state currently allows voters who cannot present a photo ID to cast their vote using a signed affidavit, through which they declare their identity and residence under penalty of perjury. The amendment would make the Secure MI Vote initiative moot, if voters approve it in November. So, let's do something common sense that restores confidence in the system and empowers our clerks to do it right.. However, a certain group of people dont want safe and secure elections: they want power and influence. Thats less than one businesses days notice, Trebilcock said. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Elissa Slotkin announces bid to succeed Debbie Stabenow. Here are some of the outrageous changes that Secure MI Vote wants to slip by voters: Mandatory submission of sensitive social security numbers to register to vote Making it illegal for election officials to make absentee ballot applications widely available to voters If this campaign fails, the effort could be dead on arrival. 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. Private organizations would not be able to donate money or in-kind contributions toward any activity or item related to an election. Getting it done by the end of the year is a very daunting hurdle, Roe acknowledged. Secure MI Vote recently began collecting the 340,047 signatures needed to introduce the initiative to state lawmakers. Judges appointed by both Republicans and Democrats rejected more than 60 lawsuits challenging the outcome.. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate on Jan. 25, 2023, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Michigan is . Jennifer Granholm, said organizers of initiatives who missed the filing deadline face a steep hill to climb if they want lawmakers to adopt their proposals before the end of the year. 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. Gretchen Whitmer. Contribute $8/month or more to enjoy the benefits of NPR+. Related: Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and wife spent millions helping Michigan hold elections. The initiative proposes to amend, or change, nine sections of. Once you tell people whats in it, theyre going to vote 'no.' Acceptable forms of photo ID would include a driver license, state ID card, passport, military ID, tribal ID or student ID issued by a university, junior college or community college. But those efforts were vetoed by Michigan Gov. Secure MI Vote is a petition initiative, meaning if organizers can obtain around 340,000 signatures, the measures would go to the Legislature for approval. If our proposal is made law, it would not be allowed to happen.. Under current law, voters must either present an ID or sign an affidavit. Here's an overview of the checks in place to prevent voter fraud. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). "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. On July 29, 2022, Secure MI Vote submitted 514,294 signatures. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Thus they launched the Protect the Vote initiative that is now on YOUR November 2022 ballot. People are caught and prosecuted; the fines are steep and prison time is a possibility. she asked. Roe said at a news conference that he believed that the campaign had collected enough valid signatures but identified about 20,000 fraudulent signatures when reviewing the petition forms, prompting concerns and a need for additional review. Our elections are secure, Secure MI Vote is about making voting harder, which affects all voters. Michigan charges $10 for an ID and already has a program to waive those fees for low-income residents receiving state aid. 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. The Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature recently attempted to pass stricter voting laws, similar to what is being proposed by Secure MI Vote. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes bashed the new initiative, accusing Republicans of "creating barriers to voting so fewer people have access to the polls." Currently, there are seven bills sitting in committee to make voting easier. Right now Michigan requires an ID or a signed affidavit that is compared to the voter's signature on file. After several recounts and analyses both locally and nationally, no widespread voter fraud was discovered in last years election. Secure MI Vote: Initiated statute: Elections reforms: Unlock Michigan II: Initiated statute: Weaken gubernatorial powers in an emergency: Let MI Kids Learn A: . Crews are continuing to work to . Paid for by Secure MI Vote Committee with regulated funds106 W Allegan, Ste 200 Lansing, MI 48933. He said the same of voters stopping by their clerk's office to obtain an application. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Voting at the polls: You must vote at your precinct and provide a picture ID. Ballot drive, suits eyed to fight Michigan vote reforms blasted as suppression, Michigan sheriff enlists private eye to grill clerks in vote fraud probe, He sought to distance GOP from Trump. "If youre going to use the church for a polling place, you have to pay that church fair market value for the use of their facility,"he said. However, the committee did warn that severe weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the Michigan election system should be fixed to avoid potential fraud in future elections. Some election officials worry they might have to remove ballot applications from their websites or stacks of blank applications available in their offices for voters to pick up. Were very very excited about the opportunity to get it rolled out and to get people fired up., We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. "After the 2016 and 2020 elections, voters on both sides of the political spectrum questioned the integrity of the election," said a statement from Secure MI Vote."Secure MI Vote seeks to restore confidence in our elections by making it . "If you are going to their website, you are soliciting that application,"he said. The ballot initiative would prohibit absentee ballot applications from being sent to electors without an elector first requesting the application. [1], The campaign Secure MI Vote filed a petition with the State Board of Canvassers on September 2, 2021. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. Under Michigan election law, theBoard of State Canvassers must determinewhether the initiative obtained enough valid signatures. "As with all statutory language and laws, thereis some interpretation and that will have to be determined,"he said. michigan petition circulator rulesirina emelyanova pasternak 26th February 2023 / in coastal carolina football camp 2022 / by / in coastal carolina football camp 2022 / by Those petitions were submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State and we continue to wait for her to approve them to go to the Michigan Legislature. 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.. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source, The gift that gives all year long. LINCOLN, Neb. 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. Those were caught and the votes were voided. 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 campaign Michigan Right to Vote filed a petition with the State Board of Canvassers on January 21, 2022. 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. 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 the group plans to fileso that the GOP-led Legislature could take up the proposal quickly. Under Secure MI Votes proposal, election officials would not be allowed to send absent voter ballots or ballot applications to registered voters unless a voter specifically requested one. Organizers say the proposal would reduce the potential for election fraud. The proposed ballot measure is an indirect initiated state statute. 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. 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. The initiative proposes to amend, or change, nine sections of Michigans election code, in addition to adding three new sections to it. 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.. Democrats have argued the Secure MI Vote plan creates barriers to voting so fewer people have access to the polls. The petition is designed to change election laws in Michigan, including a requirement for in-person voters to present a partial Social Security number and photo ID. 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. It's a continuation of the Big Lie that's anti-voter and anti-democracy. What to know about Secure MI Vote initiative: security or suppression? The "Promote the Vote 2022" ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to improve both security and access to the polls, including expanding early voting and allowing more time for military members to cast their ballots, voting rights leaders said at a Monday press conference. 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." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved activity or item related to an election soliciting that application, '' he said same... Vote is about making voting harder, which affects all voters to the... 2020 election Zuckerberg and wife spent millions helping Michigan hold elections is an indirect initiated statute. To happen nationally, no widespread voter fraud the campaign Michigan right to Vote 'no '... 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