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Michigan House Republicans
Rep. Huizenga supports plan to secure, smooth absentee voting
RELEASE|June 24, 2021

State Rep. Mark Huizenga and the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday approved two proposals to secure and smooth the absentee voting process.

One bill would require signature verification training for local clerks, and the other would allow voters to apply for an absentee ballot for all elections in a calendar year.

“These reforms will help facilitate and secure absentee voting as protected in the Michigan Constitution,” said Huizenga, of Walker. “Clarifying and expanding absentee options can smooth the process for voters and election officials, and signature verification training will equip clerks to protect the integrity of the vote.”

House Bill 4839 would allow local clerks and the secretary of state to issue applications with an option for a voter to request an absentee ballot for any or all of the elections within a calendar year, beginning no earlier than 75 days before the first regular election date in a year. If a voter’s valid application provided by the secretary of state includes more election options than a local clerk’s application, the local clerk would be required to honor any additional options selected by the voter.

When a person votes absentee, the local clerk is required to match the signatures on the application and ballot to the voter’s signature on file. Under HB 4845, the secretary of state would be required to provide training for county, city and township clerks on signature verification. The training would be administered at least every even year before the primary election, and the secretary of state could also offer the training at other times. Signature verification training would include information about matching and verifying a voter’s signature on an election document.

HBs 4839 and 4845 were approved with bipartisan support now advance to the Senate for consideration.

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