Unexpectedly, the
House Elections Committee considered a bill to allow anyone to vote absentee in
person and appears to have informally tied this bill to separate legislation
that aims to end straight-ticket voting, HB
4724, the bill to adapt a “no-reason” absentee voting was not on the committee’s
agenda.
Committee Chair
Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) brought the bill before the panel
following a couple of recesses. This was the sole bill on the agenda that
passed. All five Republicans voted yes with all three Democrats abstaining. This
bill requires those not currently qualified for an absentee ballot to go to
their local clerk offices to apply for one and present a photo ID for each
election they wish to vote absentee. Current persons eligible are those who are
60 and older, those who will be absent from home on Election Day, those with a
physical disability that requires assistance going to the polls, and a few
others.
The bills are
currently not linked, however Representative Lyons has expressed this is an
option. If the House passes both bills, the Senate could possibly let no-reason
absentee voting die and send the elimination of straight ticket voting to
Governor Rick Snyder. Both Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive)
and Chairman of the Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee Senator
Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc) have opposed no-reason absentee voting.