Thus they launched the Protect the Vote initiative that is now on YOUR November 2022 ballot. The Secure MI Vote initiative would prohibit private election funding, strengthen in-person ID rules, create a new $3 million "voter access fund . Michigan election reform Secure MI Vote. Michigan faces conference rival Wisconsin. Voting absentee: If your application passes the eligibility tests, a ballot is sent to you. FILE - Michigan Gov. "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. By, Celebrate and explore Black History Month with WKAR. The recall campaign began in August 2022, launched by chairman Belden Batiste and vice chairwoman Eileen Carter, attributing the cause to Cantrell's "quiet quit" and neglect of interacting . The petition process allows the proposal to be enacted without approval from the state's Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer. [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. Michigan already has secure elections and strong . Private organizations would not be able to donate money or in-kind contributions toward any activity or item related to an 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. The term "citizen ballot measure" is used to describe citizen-initiated processes to amend state constitutions or city charters, to uphold or repeal a law passed by the state legislature (veto referendum), to propose state laws, to approve bond issues or tax proposals, or to initiate a recall election. Clerks biggest concern is that the new requirement threatens to disenfranchise voters. she asked. 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. Those were caught and the votes were voided. 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. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen. Roe said it allows voters to mail in a copy of their ID. The master list of eligible voters is linked with public records. LANSING, Mich. The Secure MI Vote campaign says theyre confident they have enough signatures to get their initiative to the legislature. 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. Voter fraud is already a felony in Michigan and the attorney general has prosecuted people accordingly. None of the major legislative proposals have reached Whitmer. Secure Michigan Vote says they're gathering petition signatures to help prevent discrepancies in the election process. 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.. I would hope that the legislature would take immediate action particularly, please if we act with dispatch to get support from across the state.. 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. Some Michigan residents faced a fourth straight day . 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. The Secure MI Vote initiative would add several measures that supporters call reforms to enhance ballot security, but foes say are naked attempts to make it harder to vote. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source, The gift that gives all year long. Those campaigns have announced that they will try to make the 2024 ballot instead of putting their proposals before voters in the upcoming midterm. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. After several recounts and analyses both locally and nationally, no widespread voter fraud was discovered in last years election. He told the Free Press later that tweaks could help clerks comply with the new rules while maintaining online and easy access to applications. The West Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill that would allow for Public Service Commission inquiries into how railroads are managed, with new civil penalties for railroad operators ALPENA, Mich. - One organization says they're trying to make sure voting is fair and balanced in the state. Spies said it was a "misdirection to think that anybody is not going to get clear instructions on how to vote." Judges appointed by both Republicans and Democrats rejected more than 60 lawsuits challenging the outcome.. Our elections are secure, Secure MI Vote is about making voting harder, which affects all voters. Gretchen Whitmer and implement a host of voting reforms that opponents say are tantamount to suppression. 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 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. The Bureau of Elections Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections responds to and assists individuals with disabilities attempting to vote. 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. Initiative Petition . The "Secure MI Vote" petition is making its way around Michigan communities. "Once you tell people what's in it, they're going to vote 'no.' It's clear and. 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. Voting at the polls: You must vote at your precinct and provide a picture ID. 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. 3 talking about this. Secure MI Vote is looking to prevent state and local election officials from accepting election funding from parties outside of the government. 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 . Paid for by Secure MI Vote Committee with regulated funds106 W Allegan, Ste 200 Lansing, MI 48933. We repeat: If Proposal 2 wins in November elections will not be secure ever again. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. If successful, the Legislature could enact the law without the signature of the governor, or it could send the proposal to the ballot for voters to decide. Organizers propose that $3 million is allocated to that fund for the fiscal year ending in September of 2022. The Secure MI Vote petition suggests Michigans voting process is not secure, and that to fix it voting must be harder. President Joe Biden speaks to the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Baltimore. what they see as a civic duty.". 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. Eliminating the option would make it harder for some Michiganders to vote. Support local journalism by becoming a new WKAR donor and get ad-free feeds of your favorite NPR podcasts with NPR+ when you donate $8/month or more! While they submitted more signatures than the required 340,047, the late submission no longer means the Bureau of Elections has a timely deadline to check the signatures. michigan petition circulator rulesirina emelyanova pasternak 26th February 2023 / in coastal carolina football camp 2022 / by / in coastal carolina football camp 2022 / by Conservatives called the money "Zuck Bucks" and said the fundsopened the door to outside influence in the election. What about sponsors for rides to polls? 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. 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. Citing scores of audits, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, called the election one of the most secure in Michigan history. Those leading thepetition drive say it would also bar clerksfrom partnering with nongovernment groups to carry out election-related activities such as registration drives. Organizers of that initiative also aimed to amend the state's public health code through the initiative petition process to limit emergency orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health officers to 28 days unless approved by the Legislature or local governing bodies. 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. 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. Also on the Feb. 28 agenda is a discussion item on off-site valet parking. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Thousands upon thousands of signatures were collected for the Secure MI Vote petition. The panels investigation found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud in the Michigan election. 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. "The most important thing for us is that one million Michigan workers get $15 per hour, and this is that path that ensures us that victory," Jayaraman said. Spies accused "partisan extremists"of "trying to change the subject and create false issues to distract from voter ID.". Require in-person voters to present a photo ID. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. "I have a volunteer election worker that doesnt want to be paid, they feel its their civic duty,"Clark said. When there are fair elections, bad politicians are voted out and the good ones from both parties work together to solve problems. Right now Michigan requires an ID or a signed affidavit that is compared to the voter's signature on file. Elections will be unsecure for decades to come if this Proposal passes. If the ballot committee collects roughly 340,000 valid voter signatures, the GOP-led Legislature can enact the changes into law without Democratic Gov. 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. 2023 Bridge Michigan. While the Secure MI Vote committee argues its proposed changes would make it harder to cheat, Democrats and voting rights advocates say the measures create more barriers to votes being counted. 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. Hand recounts and audits proved our elections are secure. Prohibiting election administration grants in future elections will cut off a funding source that Michigan clerks say helped them manage a successful election despite a global pandemic. Secure MI Vote spokesperson Jamie Roe said that leaves room for fraud. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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. 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. 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. Help us get there. It's about making it harder to vote and more difficult for clerks to run elections. Gretchen Whitmer Share This: Roe argues that the Secure MI Vote plan addresses that issue. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson mailed absentee ballot applications to every voter in the state in 2020, a decision upheld by federal courts and one that likely contributed to record election turnout despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The ballot initiative would prohibit absentee ballot applications from being sent to electors without an elector first requesting the application. 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. [2] At least 340,047 signatures need to be valid. With a majority of the House and Senate supporting these citizen petitions, new laws will go into play making our elections secure. The proposal focuses on a few key points: Lets break down these points and their significance a bit more. If a petition sponsor avails itself of this Under Michigan election law, theBoard of State Canvassers must determinewhether the initiative obtained enough valid signatures. WKAR Public Media | Once you vote absentee for the first time, an application is mailed to you for each election in your area. The new Michigan initiative is the latest front in a nationwide Republican reform movement. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. 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.". For instance, afunction could be addedonline for voters torequest an application, he said. If the initiative is successful, the state would require photo IDs to vote in person and either a photo ID or a partial social security number to apply to vote absentee. Related:Trust Index: Fact-checking claims regarding Michigans 2020 election. 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. On Oct. 3, Whitmer vetoed three bills -- House Bills 4837, 4838 and 4492 -- which she said aimed to suppress votes or perpetuate the Big Lie in order to discredit the 2020 election. 3 min read. 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. A lot of people like to tell me, Well, you could just vote no on all of this, and actually I might not agree with it, but constitutionally I cant.. That amendment campaign is awaiting a review of its signatures to see if it will make the 2022 ballot. If they fail to do so, they can "present an original or a copy"of an ID to their "city, township, or county clerk." 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. 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. 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. 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. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the legislation. 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. Initiative organizers are hoping to send their proposal directly to Michigans GOP-majority Legislature for approval if enough signatures are gathered. Weve been there for you with daily Michigan COVID-19 news; reporting on the emergence of the virus, daily numbers with our tracker and dashboard, exploding unemployment, and we finally were able to report on mass vaccine distribution. Why arent they being worked on? The "Secure MI Vote" committee filed a proposed petition with the secretary of state's office that would tighten the state's voter ID law, ban the state from sending absentee ballot. More: Whitmer vetoes election bills, saying they 'fail to advance' safe and secure elections, More: Michigan House Republicans pass bill aimed at expediting review of petition initiatives. The initiative is proposing quite a bit of change, and were going to break down everything you need to know. (Bridge file photo) September 23, 2021 Jonathan Oosting ( Email) & Mike Wilkinson ( Email) Michigan Government Michigan Secretary of State, Gov. 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. She said. 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