Voting rights in Michigan are under attack.
While legislators like Representative Ann Bollin and state Senator Lana Theis continue to attempt to pass legislation to inhibit voting freedoms secured with the passage of Proposal 3 in 2018, yet another group, calling themselves “Secure MI Vote” is also working to silence voters by making it more difficult to vote, and for clerks to run elections.
“Secure MI Vote is a continuation of the Big Lie about the 2020 election. Our election was the most secure ever. These changes actually will make it harder to vote, especially to vote absentee, but the people collecting signatures will not tell you that. They will lie about what the petition does. Decline to sign,” said Judy Daubenmier, chair of Livingston County Democrats.
When you see people collecting signatures, please report them to the Protect MI Vote Committee by calling 517-481-2165, and they will send a field team to check on them, Daubenmier said.
These petitions, if successful, would require people to disclose partial social security numbers when registering to vote; eliminate the option that registered voters have to securely verify their identity and vote normally; require registered absentee voters to disclose driver’s license, personal ID, or partial social security numbers when applying for the their ballets; throw out the ballots of registered voters (in person and absentee) who can’t satisfy these new identity requirements, unless they go in person to their clerk’s office and present acceptable documentation within six days after the election; prohibit election officials from making absentee ballot applications available except upon the voter’s request; and ban charitable contributions, including volunteer time, to help administer elections, according to information provided by the Michigan Democratic Party.
Indeed, the most vulnerable voters who are often unable to physically get to the polls could be most severely impacted.
Daubenmier said some of the provisions will open voters up to identity theft. Sending in the last four digits of your Social Security number because those four digits can in some cases allow identity thieves to guess the rest of your number because of the way Social Security numbers were assigned.
“It’s appalling that Republicans are willing to put voters at risk, including many of their own supporters,” she said.
Hoping to circumvent the will of Michigan voters who approved Proposal 3, this group is circulating petitions which legislators, using a loophole in the system, could then pass into law, without it ever being voted upon by the people of Michigan.
Further, while Governor Whitmer is able to veto bills brought before her by legislators, this loophole precludes a veto, and could be passed into law by the Republican legislature with no recourse.
Michigan already has secure elections, and strong voter ID laws that work, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, following a full review of voting in the 2020 elections. A majority of Michigan voters passed Proposal 3 to ensure safe, secure elections and the voting rights of all Michigan citizens.
“Secure MI Vote” is a ploy to change the rules because they didn’t like the results of the 2020 election. Voters are advised to decline to sign these petitions to avoid very possibly giving away their voting rights.
(Paid for by the Livingston County Democratic Party Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River,
Woodland Plaza, Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Labor Donated)