Michigan Could Add 8 Voter Protections to its Constitution
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What the Initiative Does
Michigan Proposal 3, the Voting Policies in State Constitution Initiative, would add eight voting policies to the Michigan Constitution. It would amend the Michigan State Constitution to:
- Provide a right to use secret ballots (currently, the Constitution requires the legislature to enact laws for secret ballots);
- Provide the military members and overseas voters receive an absentee ballot at least 45 days before the election (currently, this is in statute);
- Allow eligible persons to register to vote by mail until 15 days before an election (currently, statute allows eligible persons to register to vote by mail until 30 days before an election);
- Allow eligible persons to register to vote in person at a clerk’s office during the final 14 days before an election, and at at the polls on election day (currently, statute allows eligible persons to register to vote in person at a clerk’s office until 30 days before an election);
- Allow straight-ticket voting as an option (currently, straight-ticket voting isn’t allowed);
- Provide for automatic voter registration of eligible persons when they interact with the state regarding driver’s licenses or state ID cards, unless they decline to be registered to vote (currently, there’s no automatic voter registration);
- Provide that any voter can vote using an absentee ballot (no-excuse absentee voting) during the 40 days before an election (at least one of the following criteria must be met to vote absentee: 60 years of age or older, unable to vote at the pools without assistance, expected to be out of town on election day, in jail awaiting arraignment or trial, unable to attend the polls for religious reasons, or appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of their home precinct); and
- Provide for the auditing of election results (currently, this is provided for by statute).
In Favor
This ballot measure will make Michigan’s voting system fairer and more accessible to all voters, helping everyone participate in the democratic process. It’ll also ensure a more secure vote, an up-to-date system, and accurate voter rolls.
Opposed
The provision allowing same-day registration on Election Day opens elections up to fraud and is unnecessary, as roughly 95 percent of eligible voters are already on the voter rolls. Since this entire measure has to be approved together, the whole proposal should be voted down on the basis of this issue.
In-Depth
Promote the Vote, a PAC, is leading the campaign in support of Proposal 3 with the support of the ACLU of Michigan, Michigan State Conference of the NAACP, League of Women Voters of Michigan, United Auto Workers, and others. Promote the Vote argues that Proposal 3 will ensure more access to a secure vote:
“We need a voting system that works for all citizens in Michigan. Period. From working parents who struggle with long voting lines, far-away polling places and no time off work to vote, to people who frequently move for jobs or military service, we need to set up our system so that every eligible Michigander can have their voice heard on Election Day. The good news is that the fix to our election system -- restoring faith in our democracy -- isn’t a hard one. We can ensure all eligible Americans have access to a secure vote, an up-to-date system and accurate voter lists. In fact, most of these reforms in this constitutional amendment have been in existence for decades in other states. The citizens of Michigan deserve the same access to the ballot enjoyed by other citizens across this country.”
Kate Moss, the ACLU’s director of affiliate support and nationwide initiatives, calls the right to vote “the most fundamental right in a democracy,” and argues that Proposition 3 has been a long time coming:
"After the presidential election in 2016, we heard a tremendous desire on the ground and around the state in urban communities that voting should be easier. Michigan is a real outlier behind other states in providing basic protection against voter suppression."
Protect My Vote is leading the campaign opposed to Proposal 3 with the support of Rep. Eric Leutheuser (R-58) and Secretary of State candidate Mary Treder Lang (R). The Detroit News editorial board, which recommends that Michigan voters vote “no” on all ballot proposals on November’s ballot, argues that same-day registration opens elections to fraud:
“[T]his proposal would allow would-be voters to show up at the polls on Election Day and ask to be registered. Polling places would become clerks’ offices, requiring more staffing and leading to voting delays. It would also make validating voter eligibility more difficult. Michigan does very well at registering eligible voters. Roughly 95 percent of those eligible to vote are on the registration rolls.”
Getting this proposal on the November ballot was difficult for advocates, as the ACLU had to go to court to force the Secretary of State’s office to approve the petition and develop the wording to put Proposal 3 on the ballot.
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / hermosawave)
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