DETROIT — GOP lawmakers in the Michigan Senate Wednesday made sweeping changes to a bill originally focused on implementing a strict voter ID requirement, subbing in a new version that adds restrictions on funding for elections and a ban against election officials sending absentee ballot applications unless voters specifically request one.
Democratic lawmakers blasted the bill, calling it voter suppression and criticizing Republicans for not sharing the new version until shortly before the vote.
"When it's a conversation about voting rights, all of us should be participating in it. All of our constituents stand to gain and lose," said Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield.
"This is way too consequential to change the rules and change the language and change the bill at the very last minute. Which, again, is only to continue the chasing after this fundamental lie that there's something wrong with our elections to begin with."
The bill — SB 303 — passed the Senate on a party-line vote with every Republican supporting it. It now heads back to the House. Even if approved, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will almost assuredly veto it. She has vowed to reject legislation that would make it harder to vote.
In amending the legislation, Republicans also jettisoned a signature verification requirement for in-person voters approved earlier by House Republicans that would have made Michigan home to the most stringent voter ID requirement in the U.S.
That requirement would have meant the signature used to check into polling locations would have been checked against the one in the poll book. Voters who failed to show an ID or whose signatures didn't match would need a provisional ballot that wouldn't count unless voters took additional steps with their local clerk.
Democratic lawmakers reiterated their broadest argument against the bill: They believe the measure is unnecessary and prevents eligible people from voting in order to appease those who believe the 2020 election was rife with fraud and misconduct.
In response to disenfranchisement concerns, Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, called on lawmakers to pass a separate bill to eliminate fees for obtaining a state ID card. That measure would ensure "appropriate safeguards to protect the rights of voters," Johnson said.
But Democrats successfully pushed to adjourn the Senate, abruptly ending the session before any additional election bills could be considered. Three GOP lawmakers joined their Democratic colleagues in voting to adjourn, part of a move Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey labeled as "hijinks."
"The Democrats pulled some hijinks and I allowed us to be momentarily taken in. But it will not happen again and we will prevail in the end. Michiganders deserve this reform," said Shirkey, R-Clarklake.
Senate Republicans vowed to vote on the other bills on Thursday.
The new version of the bill lumps in proposals from a series of other GOP Senate bills opposed by many election officials and voting rights advocates.
The bill would eliminate the option for voters to verify their identity by signing an affidavit before voting normally at the polls.
The affidavit option is rarely used in Michigan, but voting rights advocates say it helps ensure voters without an ID can still exercise their rights.
Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck, a Republican who co-chairs the Michigan Association of County Clerks' Legislative Committee, has questioned the need for the change. "Before we start turning legitimate voters away from the polls, we have to identify what problem it's solving," he said. When it comes to voter fraud by impersonation, Roebuck said there is "no data on that to say that that's a problem."
The bill would also require those requesting an absentee ballot to include their driver's license or state ID number, the last four digits of their Social Security number or a copy of their photo ID.
Voters who don't meet the new ID requirements would be issued a provisional ballot that would not be counted unless they presented a photo ID or documents verifying their address at their local clerk's office within six days of an election.
Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks President and Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark said the changes would mean more provisional ballots.
"The outcome of that is a significant, significant number of people's ballots will not be counted," she said.
The bill also bans the Michigan Secretary of State, clerks and public employees from sending out unsolicited absentee ballot applications. The state, county clerks and other public officials could only send out applications to people who request one.
Finally, the bill would ban election officials from accepting private funds to administer elections. The bill appears to be written in a way that could also bar clerks from accepting federal grant money. Under the bill, elections would only be funded with money appropriated by the Legislature, county, city or township conducting an election.
Roebuck said he understands concerns that private funds could lead to disparities between jurisdictions, but thinks the Legislature should work to increase support for election administration. "Obviously if we're going to say no private funding, where is the commitment to actually fund what we need in elections?"
———
