The upcoming election year may look different if Michigan Republicans are successful in their petition to rewrite voting laws, and in theory, they could do it with only 8% of previous voters’ signatures, according to the Michigan constitution.
The Secure MI Vote initiative would prohibit private election funding, strengthen in-person ID rules, create a new $3 million “voter access fund,” require ID info for absentee ballot applications and bar unsolicited absentee ballot applications to voters.
An infographic simplifying information about the law.
Republican reactions
Opponents of the bill claim this will make voting that much more difficult, even dismaying voters.
Republicans, however, feel differently about their petition. Many wish to not make this petition a partisan effort and would rather come together from both sides, said Mark Uminn, a GOP candidate for precinct delegate of Oshtemo Charter Township.
Said Uminn, “We think that there’s been a lot of division over the past couple of years, and that we need to come together -Not on ‘we want Republicans’ or ‘we want Democrats’- but rather we want fair elections. And we want our voters, our constituents, to be confident about the results of those elections.”
“I’m very hopeful about the result of this petition,” said Uminn, “and I think that we see that with every single signature that gets added to this petition, and we are very hyped up about this and we’re ready to go. And I think we will see this petition making a lot of headway in the months to come.”
Segment of the Mark Uminn Interview:
How Democrats feel
While many Republicans believe the bill would simply strengthen election integrity, there is concern from Democrats that the petition would create unnecessary barriers for voters.
“Voting should be easier, not harder,” said Amber Tilley, a graduate student at Central Michigan University and a resident of Isabella County. “I’m worried that laws like this would deter all sorts of people.”
Tilley also discussed concerns about who stricter voting laws would hurt – namely, those in lower income brackets and communities, who may not have the time or the political interest to
jump through the hoops.
“In a democracy, voting should be accessible,” said Tilley. “This law could do the opposite.”
The pandemic and voting
Since the pandemic, there has been controversy surrounding the elections. With the previously implemented social distancing guidelines choices were made to better protect voters at the polls, and with those choices came a divide. However, candidates are still urging voters to participate in any way they can.
Tyson Shepard, the campaign manager for GOP attorney general candidate Matthew Deperno said, “Matt stands firm that we need fair, honest, safe and secure elections. Pandemic or no pandemic that’s a pillar of our democracy; if we don’t have faith in our election systems that’s a problem.”
The State of Michigan Tuebor Circumspice Flag in front of the Grand Rapids election office. Credit: Sarah Marilyn
Security and ID crackdowns
John Markis is a Retired Assistant Deputy Sheriff who favors the petition to rewrite voting laws.
“Lack of security and ID rules when voting could be the result of unfair election results and that can create consequences of electing the wrong leaders. We need to verify that each vote is legitimate,” said Markis.
Markis is not alone in his support for rewriting Michigan’s voting laws. In Isabella County, the Republican Party has volunteers working to garner signatures to support the initiative. Kelly Fountain is one of those individuals working on petitions for the Isabella County Republican Party to support the Secure MI Vote.
“I think it is valuable to have legal registered American voters ID and no mass soliciting to random homes,” said Fountain. “Too many absentee ballots are mailed to non-verified homes or to the citizens with names on the ballot.”
How the petition came to be
Some of the general public’s concerns seem to be linked to the 2020 election. After the results of the election were announced, members of the Republican party questioned the integrity of the election. It is worth noting that there has been no conclusive evidence that the results of the election were altered by voter fraud.
The Secure MI Vote petitions began circulating back in September of 2021. The Michigan GOP hopes to secure at least 340,047 signatures in order to send the initiative to the state Legislature. Essentially, petitions need to be finalized in time for the initiative to slog through the Legislature. If the initiative makes it to the Legislature, it will likely pass due to the Republican Party’s majority in both the state Senate and the House of Representatives. An attempt by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to veto the law could be circumvented thanks to a provision in the state of Michigan’s constitution.
The Grand Rapids Election Drop Box near Monroe Avenue. Credit: Sarah Marilyn
The proposal would also ban outside corporate entities from funding election administration functions.
“For years, I’ve fought for reforms that make it easy to vote but hard to cheat. Strengthening our voter ID law and preventing election officials from sending an absentee ballot application to voters who haven’t asked for one are common-sense changes that would bolster election integrity while protecting the right to vote. Kent County will always conduct its elections transparently and according to the law, but it is premature for my office to prepare for changes in election law based on any ballot initiative at this time,” said Lisa Posthumus Lyons from the Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds.