Recognizing the increasing workload on local election clerks all over the state of Michigan following election law reforms allowing absentee voting with no required reason, same day registration and other issues, State Rep. Brad Paquette of Niles wants to streamline a portion of the law to help everyone.
Paquette is spearheading a plan to give local election clerks the option to send out absentee ballot applications that allow you, as a voter, to request ballots for all elections in a calendar year.
Paquette says it just makes sense to allow local clerks to determine the best methods for sending out and managing absent voter applications in each of their communities.
The State Rep. says, “This is a great idea brought to my attention by one of our local township clerks,” and adds, “The number of people who have been added to permanent absent voter lists have increased immensely, and the postage costs associated with sending out absent voter applications have grown just as much. This will give clerks an opportunity to make changes that are cost effective and less confusing to voters.”
Under current state law, clerks are required to prepare separate absent voter applications for each election – except for a primary or special primary election and the election that follows. Overseas and military voters, however, may submit one application to request ballots for all elections in a calendar year.
Paquette suggests, “This plan allows clerks to use an application for local voters that is similar to the Federal Post Card Applications used by overseas and uniformed service voters,” and concludes, “It’s a simple solution that makes a lot of sense.”
House Bill 5543 received unanimous bipartisan support from the House Election of Ethics Committee, and it now advances to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
