Rep. Noah Arbit introduces legislation prohibiting individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving as state or county election canvassers; bill a critical step in insulating Michigan’s democracy from bad actors.
LANSING, Mich., March 12, 2024 — Today, state Representative Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) testified before the House Elections Committee on his legislation (HB 5551) to disqualify individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving on the Board of State Canvassers or on a county board of election canvassers.
“Individuals who violate Michigan election law to undermine or interfere with our democratic process have no business overseeing our state’s elections, let alone certifying results – period, end of story,” Arbit stated. “Every step of our election process must be made resilient to threats and malign actors, in order to strengthen our democracy. My bill to insulate state and county canvassing boards from individuals who have demonstrated a willingness to violate election law is a critical next step in our ongoing fight to strengthen Michigan’s democracy. I look forward to working with Secretary Jocelyn Benson, my colleagues in the House and Senate, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to pass this urgent and common-sense measure into law.”
HB 5551 awaits a vote in the House Elections Committee. It was supported in committee by the Michigan Department of State and Voters Not Politicians.