Rushed proposal lacks funding, erodes key checks and balances

State Rep. Ann Bollin, a former township clerk who administered local elections for 16 years, today sounded the alarm about new bills being rushed through the Legislature that risk the integrity of Michigan’s elections.

House Bills 4695-4702 are supposed to lay out guidelines for carrying out early in-person voting approved by Michigan voters through Proposal 2 of 2022 – but Bollin said the bills were crafted in the dark and disregard several safeguards that have long been in place to protect against election fraud.

“We all know that public trust in government and our elections is at an all-time low. These bills will only compound that,” Bollin said during a speech she gave before the vote. “I am befuddled as to why this Legislature would play into that by expanding the scope of the constitutional amendment approved by voters last fall. I also can’t comprehend why the proposed bills would be kept from the public until less than 24 hours before a committee hearing or why are we rushing these bills through the House. Legislation of this importance should be crafted through an open and deliberative process by legislators who garner input from all stakeholders.”

Bollin noted that House Bills 4695-4702 make several changes beyond what voters approved in Proposal 2, including:

• Allowing absentee ballot curing to extend beyond 8 p.m. on election night.
• Granting broad authority to a partisan election official to direct a local clerk contrary to their statutory duties.
• Removing drop-box security measures.
• Allowing print-on-demand ballots, which would have profound consequences for performing recounts, the recording of voted ballots, and auditing challenged ballots.

“These bills – and this process – are fundamentally flawed and grossly change our elections beyond the intent of Michigan voters,” Bollin said. “Eroding the role of our local clerks, creating confusion and unequal access for voters, removing checks and balances, and further chipping away at the public’s trust.”

Despite Bollin’s opposition, the flawed proposal was approved by the House along party lines. It now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

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