LANSING -- The Michigan House of Representatives struck a blow for voters Thursday by approving no reason absentee voting with bipartisan support.
The House approved House Bill 4367 by a vote of 79-30 with 12 Republicans joining the entire Democratic caucus in approving the bill.
Under current Michigan law, there are only six reasons for A/B voting: age 60 years old or older, unable to vote without assistance at the polls, expecting to be out of town on election day, in jail awaiting arraignment or trial, unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons or are appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence. If the Republican-controlled Senate approves the bill, Michigan will join 28 other states that allow no reason A/B voting. However, they killed a similar bill last session by refusing to even allow a vote on it.
The bill will certainly increase Michigan’s abysmal average 25 percent voter turnout. A recent U.S. Census survey said more than 7.5 million people said they did not vote because of “logistical reasons.
Republicans have been against the measure for many years, and their reason is strictly political. The drumming they have taken in the last few elections and the recent defections from the GOP, such as Sen. Arlen Specter, its not surprisingly they are against it.
Among the many groups supporting no reason A/B voting are The Michigan Election Reform Alliance, The Michigan Election Coalition, The League of Women Voters, The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, The Michigan Municipal League, The Michigan Campaign Finance Network, The Michigan Association of County Clerks, The Michigan Townships Association, Common Cause Michigan and The Michigan Nonprofit Association.
The only one is really against it except, apparently, the 30 Republicans who voted against it. The GOP claims they are against it because of voter fraud, but that simply isn’t true. If that were the case, then why are The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and the Michigan Association of County Clerks supporting it? If fraud was a problem, why are they supporting it? They would see the alleged fraud before anyone else.
It’s funny to see how the GOP is falling apart. The official unofficial GOP blog - wrong Michigan - attacked the 12 Republicans who voted for the bill. One of the 12 was my state Representative, Rep. Cindy Denby, R-Handy Township.
I don’t agree with her on a lot of issues, but I know her from covering the township for three different newspapers and she is above reproach. The reason she supported it may be that she was the township clerk responsible for running elections, and then she was the Township Supervisor.
12 comments:
There are national elections once every two years. It's up to you to choose whether or not to drag your butt out of bed or away from the tv or computer and go to your local precinct and cast your ballot.
Those that don't care about going to vote, or are too lazy won't make the effort to fill out the ballot at home more than once or twice and will find it to cumbersome to walk to the mailbox and put it in.
As for fraud, you will hear of an elderly person, that is living with a caretaker, child or professional, and we'll start hearing that the caretaker voted for the elderly or infirm. But I'm sure you won't consider that abuse unless it's a Republican that is caught doing it rather than a Socialist Democrat.
That stance makes no sense, brett. You have a very low opinion of American voters. People are working; many are working more than one job just to make ends meet. That is currently not an option for obtaining an A/B ballot. There are voters caring for children and a wide variety of things that make getting to the polls difficult. I see absouetly no reason for opposing this. I only see good coming from more Americans voting.
As for this alleged fraud, there is little if any. I was not aware that seniors had to lose their right to vote at a certain age. Plus, under current law anyone over 60 can already obtain an A/B ballot, so try again, brett. But, I have never heard of such an occurrence. It may have occurred on the rare occasion, but I think it’s rare.
Once again, brett, there is no such thing as a socialist Democrat in this country, and that’s just a fascist Republican talking point.
Of course it makes no sense to you. You lack common sense.
Of course you've never heard of such an occurance. You bury your head in the sand when Socialist Democrats get caught doing that.
You've probably never heard of Clark Kent being registered to vote in Cleveland a few years ago, along with porky pig, Ralph Kramden and the others. You probably also didn't hear of the 19 year old kids hired to register voters and being for with cigarettes. Naturally, all were Socialist Democrats that did this.
I never expect any sense from you. Common sense is not prevalent with you Socialist Democrats.
It makes no sense because it’s senseless. I have never heard of such an occurrence because you probably made it up, and if it is such a common occurrence then you should be able to provide links to a few, or even one, brett. Are you actually telling me that you don’t know anyone over age 60 already has no reason A/B voting?
Once again, brett, there is no such thing as a “socialist Democrat” in this country, and no matter how many times you repeat it, it’s still a false fascist Republican talking point.
If you said it that usually means it’s a lie. Registering and voting are two different things. I don’t see how any of this is an argument for opposing no reason A/B voting.
I never expect any sense, truth or proof from you. Common sense is not prevalent with you Fascist Republicans.
Do you ever have anything constructive to say, or able to bring some actual debate to the table?
I'm not surprised you've never heard of granny farming. You really ought to research things better before you start spouting your socialist democrat crap.
So what we have here is a clear case where one particular party is obviously putting agents deep under cover in the home care field in hopes that with enough of them in the homes of elderly patients they are able to sway the vote.
Maybe a sting operation with detectives acting incontinent, and blathering on about today's episode of Larry King with that "wonderfully nice kid" Jay Leno to throw them off would be able to break up the conspiracy!
lol
You’re finally right about something, I have never heard of “granny farming.” In fact, I think you made it up, brett. You’ll have to enlighten me. Regardless, it has nothing to do with no reason A/B voting. Like I said before and that you ignored, anyone age 60 or over can already get an absentee ballot. So brett, why do you oppose this measure?
Once again, brett, there is no such thing as a “socialist” Democrat in this country, and that is just a fascist Republican talking point.
I agree, agnosticrat, it’s a partisan conspiracy by the Michigan Election Reform Alliance, The League of Women Voters, The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and The Michigan Association of County Clerks.
You've never heard of granny farming? I would think that anyone that wants to speak on something would at least have done their research. Go do some learning and maybe you can speak intelligently about it.
Correct; because what ever it may be, it has nothing to do with this debate. I’ll ask you one more time, it’s your argument, you prove it exists, and stop playing stupid. Of course, perhaps you’re not really playing, brett.
There is a reason why Republicans oppose such measures and Democrats support them.
Both sides must believe such measures will increase votes for Democrats.
Why that is? I don't know. But that's obviously the gist of the argument. The rationale behind the arguments can be debated. But the expected result -- more votes for Democrats -- is clear.
You are finally right about something, brett, it will increase votes for Democrats, and that’s why the Grand Oil Party opposes it. Anytime more people vote, the GOP loses because they know they are bankrupt of ideas, and they are losing more support every single day.
They why doesn’t your party just be honest and say they oppose it because a most people hold Democratic ideas and values, and if more people vote the GOP loses. Just say you don’t support voter’s rights instead of this fraud lie as the reason you oppose it.
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