LANSING Mich. (WLNS) – Voter suppression or election safety? Proposed adjustments to voter registration have some folks in Michigan fired up.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson shared her opposition to the SAVE Act Thursday, calling it voter suppression. The proposed federal laws would require folks to offer proof of American citizenship after they register to vote.
Individuals must present both a U.S. passport, a start certificates, or naturalization paperwork to turn out to be a registered voter.
In line with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures, as of January 2025, eight states require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Benson doesn’t need to see Michigan added to that record.
“That’s not gonna happen on our watch,” Benson says.
Benson says the SAVE Act would take away present mail-in and on-line choices for voter registration and would require folks to register in individual—and he or she additionally says this is able to make issues tougher for each People and election staff.
“Every time a voter updates their registration, or moves, they would have to go in person, to a Clerk’s office with all of the required documentation,” Benson says.
Benson can be involved about what the SAVE Act would imply for married ladies who’ve taken their husband’s final identify.
“If those women who have changed their names don’t have an updated U.S. passport, they might not be able to register to vote,” Benson says.
In line with Benson, greater than 2.2 million Michigan ladies have married names that aren’t the identical because the identify on their start certificates. Extra documentation could also be required for this kind of state of affairs.
Final 12 months, a Chinese language worldwide scholar from the College of Michigan was arrested and charged for illegally voting. His vote was counted within the November normal election. Benson says that whereas conditions like this do should be addressed, unlawful voting is uncommon.
“You don’t have to rewrite and destroy our entire system of elections and impose all of these requirements on all of Michigan voters because of these very rare, isolated incidents,” Benson continued. “Instead, we should talk about how to, in a narrow, more specific way, address those circumstances.”
Lawmakers like Republican U.S. Consultant from Michigan Tim Walberg helps the SAVE Act, issuing the next assertion:
“I’ve long championed legislation to bolster election security. If someone cannot present a driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, or other proof of citizenship, then they should not be voting in our elections. As I have stated previously, you do not need a passport to vote under the SAVE Act, but proof of citizenship is required.”
U.S. Congressmen John Moolenaar additionally gave 6 Information a press release on the SAVE Act, saying:
“Last year, Jocelyn Benson allowed a Chinese national to vote in Michigan’s election, and since then she has done nothing to address it. The SAVE Act would stop that from happening, require proof of citizenship to vote, and secure our elections. Secretary Benson’s reaction to the SAVE Act is also out of line with her support for the REAL ID requirement which Michigan residents will need to show before boarding a flight in just two months. The same documents she has required Michigan residents to have at their local SOS office before getting their REAL ID could be used to register to vote.”
The SAVE Act would additionally set up prison penalties for registering somebody who doesn’t have the correct paperwork to vote. Benson says that she has a plan to offer extra instruments for voter registration whereas making it simpler to take away ineligible registrations. She says extra particulars about that plan are coming quickly.
