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Rep. Hall: Voter ID proposals will help establish secure elections for Michigan
RELEASE|June 23, 2021
Contact: Matt Hall

State Rep. Matt Hall, of Marshall, today helped advance reformative measures which work to restore confidence and create a clearer procedure for elections in the state.

The plans, Senate Bills 303-04 and 5007, establish voter identification requirements. Presenting an ID in order to cast a vote is a concept supported by 80 percent of the public, according to a recent poll conducted by Monmouth University. In 2018, the Pew Research Center found that 76 percent of Americans favored requiring everyone to show a government-issued photo ID to vote, compared to only 23 percent who opposed it.

“These are reasonable reforms that people want and support,” Hall said. “People need to show IDs when they do all kinds of things and casting a ballot should be no different. These measures are going to restore confidence in our elections system, and we heard from many people over the past several months who shared their concerns regarding Michigan’s elections process and what could be improved. We are acting on those concerns with these votes.”

The Senate bills require a voter to be provided with a provisional ballot if they do not have identification when voting in person. Provisional ballots must contain a notice that they will only be tabulated if a voter verifies their identity with a local clerk within six days after an election.

An additional $1 million in supplemental funding within House Bill 5053 would assist in implementing the Senate plans. HB 5007 removes the current $10 issuance and renewal fees for a state personal identification card, enhancing the ability for people to obtain identification.

“Cost and access should not be barriers for voting – and this plan protects that standard,” Hall said.

As chair of the House Oversight Committee during the 2019-20 legislative term, Hall worked with the Senate Oversight Committee to hold numerous hearings on Michigan’s elections. The hearings covered election concerns and sought a clear picture of state and local elections processes.

The hearings also developed ideas and recommendations for what could help re-establish trust in Michigan’s elections after so many had voiced concerns. The plans advanced today are the latest in key election reforms that will instill confidence and shore up the state’s system for the future.

The legislation now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

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