HJR B would give Michigan voters a chance to improve election security

State Rep. Ann Bollin this week voted to require reasonable identity verification for Michigan voters, but the measure ultimately failed to gain enough votes on the House floor after House Democrats refused to support it, despite overwhelming public support for voter ID laws. Because the measure proposes a constitutional amendment, two-thirds of the House would need to support it for it to advance.

The debate comes during the final week before a major federal deadline, when travelers must have a REAL ID-compliant license to board domestic flights beginning May 7.

“As the federal deadline approaches, our very own Secretary of State has boasted about the high rate of individuals who have upgraded or obtained a REAL ID. As of late March, we were close to 80%,” said Bollin, R-Brighton Township. “The Secretary of State has spent extensive resources and time informing people across Michigan of not only the deadline, but the benefits of REAL ID, the ‘simple’ process, and the documents necessary to complete the process to obtain a REAL ID. House Joint Resolution B would essentially apply the same standard to elections.”

Bollin, who served more than 16 years as Brighton Township clerk, co-sponsored House Joint Resolution B, which would require first-time voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering. In-person voters would need to present photo ID, and absentee voters would need to submit a copy of their photo ID or an identification number. In-person voters who do not present ID would still be able to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted if the voter returns to provide ID within six days after the election.

The proposed constitutional amendment would ensure only valid Michigan voters cast ballots in Michigan elections.

“Fair, free and secure elections are incumbent upon us having voter rolls that are accurate, voter rolls that are current, and voter rolls that conform to the laws of our nation and our state,” Bollin said. “Nationally, we have certain requirements that must be met. One of the most important requirements is being a U.S. citizen. Currently, the National Voter Registration Act does not allow us to verify citizenship for federal elections, but there is nothing that prohibits a state from verifying U.S. citizenship.

“HJR B is a compliment to REAL ID and a commonsense proposal to ensure we are following the most fundamental and elementary requirements to vote – verifying U.S. citizenship.”

If HJR B had received a two-thirds majority vote in both the state House and Senate, the proposal would have gone on the ballot in the next general election for the people to decide whether to add the measure to the Michigan Constitution.

A Pew Research survey conducted last year found that 81% of respondents favor requiring people to show government-issued photo identification to vote.