House Republicans putting unnecessary roadblocks ahead of people’s right to vote
LANSING — House Democrats today voted in opposition to legislation that would put limits on voter access to Michigan elections.
HB 4127 and HB 4128 address a problem that does not exist, House Democrats said.
“On the heels of the most comprehensive election audit in Michigan’s history, House Republicans pushed forward bills that would limit voters’ access to cast a ballot in future elections,” said House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Twp. “Republicans continue to ignore the facts and push bogus conspiracy theories and lies about Michigan’s elections. These bills are nothing more than a smear campaign designed to instill mistrust in our elections and harm our Democratic institutions.”
“This legislation punishes those who have not voted in recent years instead of inviting and encouraging them to participate in our elections,” said Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton. “If we’re looking for better accountability and transparency around our elections, then we should start with accountability for the eighteen House Republicans who pushed unfounded conspiracy theories, encouraged violence, and brought fake electors to the doors of our Capitol in hopes of subverting the will of Michigan voters and preventing the peaceful transition of power.”
“With the help of the 1,300 partisan and nonpartisan municipal clerks who run our elections, the Michigan Secretary of State has recently completed the most comprehensive election audit in history and found no fraud,” said Rep. Kara Hope, D-Holt. “Not only would this put needless obstacles between a properly registered voter and the ballot; it also addresses a problem that does not exist.”
Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, offered an amendment to HB 4127 that was rejected by House Republicans.
“My amendment would have kept the way we currently recertify placeholder birthdates included in a voter’s file,” Carter said. “We shouldn’t be singling out certain lawfully registered voters and requiring them to provide more information just to stay registered than when they signed up in the first place.”
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