FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2021
Contact: Prudence Robertson, probertson@sbalist.org (240) 672-2828
Washington, D.C. – Representatives in Michigan’s state legislature recently approved S.B. 303 and S.B 304, legislation strengthening voter I.D. protections by closing a critical loophole in state voting laws, sending it to the governor’s desk.
The voter identification measures, S.B. 303 and S.B 304, allow anyone to vote with a photo I.D., and further allow a person to vote with a provisional ballot if they do not have a photo I.D. when voting in person, and require that such individuals be notified that they must verify their voter registration record or establish their identity and residence within six days after the election in order for the provisional ballot to be counted. In addition, H.B. 5007 would eliminate fees for getting or renewing an official state personal I.D. card.
Under current law, established in 1996 and upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2007, voters must produce photo I.D. to cast a ballot in person. If individuals attempting to cast a ballot do not have photo I.D., they may still vote by signing an affidavit stating they are not in possession of photo I.D. at that time and attesting to their eligibility. Such ballots are treated in the same manner as photo-verified ballots and counted on Election Day.
National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement:
“When it comes to ensuring that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat in our elections, there is nothing more commonsense and popular than voter I.D. We applaud the legislature for advancing this important legislation, but unfortunately it appears Governor Whitmer is intent on preserving the status quo of keeping it easy to cheat in Michigan elections. We urge the governor to put politics aside in favor of fair, secure, and transparent elections every voter can trust, and to reject partisan pressure from Washington Democrats set on eroding election safeguards and confidence that every legal vote can be counted fairly and openly.”
Data from the Michigan State Department shows that of 2.3 million voters who cast a ballot in-person in Michigan’s 2020 general election, 11,417 voted without an I.D.
According to recent polling by the Detroit Regional Chamber, an overwhelming 79.7% of registered voters in Michigan support requiring an I.D. when voting in person—a majority of every demographic group including 83.4% of Independent voters and 58.4% of strong Democrat voters.
Recent polling shows the majority of voters, including Black and Hispanic as well as urban and independent voters, overwhelmingly support voter I.D. protections and want it to be easy to vote and hard to cheat.
The Election Transparency Initiative, a partnership between American Principles Project (APP) and the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), was organized to combat H.R. 1/S. 1 and advocate for state-based election reforms that voters can trust.
###
