A new absentee option will make voting process easier, but still secure
The right to vote is the foundation of our Republic, a defining principle that sets our nation apart from other nations. I am proud to be elected to serve the citizens of the great state of Michigan.
Our vote is our voice, our sword and our shield, yet many of our citizens have difficulty exercising the right to vote in person. For many, life’s circumstances can, and do, conspire to defeat even the simplest of plans.
State law provides citizens with six options to legitimately apply for an absentee ballot, which includes expecting to be out of town. While the present system accommodates voters in some circumstances, it does not for others. For instance, why should our laws deny working parents and small business owners who are the fabric of our communities the same opportunities as would-be criminals? Why should someone tending to a sick relative, or welcoming a new baby – all unpredictable events – be denied their right to vote because of conflicting obligations?
House Bill 4724, introduced by Rep. Lisa Lyons, and Senate Bill 1114, introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt, would create a seventh path to absentee voting. Prior to the election, a lawfully registered and qualified person could apply for an absentee ballot with their local clerk, if they do so in person and subject to the same security and ID procedures that guard our process on Election Day. This requirement would apply each time the person desires to vote using this new path.
Read more: http://bridgemi.com/2016/12/a-new-absentee-option-will-make-voting-process-easier-but-still-secure/