A citizen-initiated proposal in Michigan to ban private funding of elections, prohibit the secretary of state from sending out unsolicited applications for absentee ballots, and require state-issued photo ID to vote is one step closer to taking effect.
On July 29, volunteers from the Secure MI Vote campaign filed petitions bearing more than 500,000 signatures, seeking to advance the measure to the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature for a vote, where it is expected to be approved.
Michigan law requires 340,000 valid signatures to move the citizen proposal forward.
Democrats have fought hard to block election integrity measures sponsored by GOP legislators, calling the measures “voter suppression.”
If the state legislature approves the citizen-initiated proposition, the state Constitution says it wouldn’t be subject to a ballot referendum. Another constitutional provision makes the law veto-proof.
Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has vetoed dozens of election-related measures sent to her desk by the Legislature.
“Over the coming weeks, we trust the Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (a Democrat) will swiftly review and confirm the validity of the signatures of our fellow citizens so they can be presented to the Board of State Canvassers to provide their consent," Secure MI Vote spokesperson Jamie Roe said in a statement.
“Then, the (state) Constitution requires our legislative initiative be presented to the Michigan Legislature for their consideration.”
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