PROVISIONAL ABSENTEE BALLOTS; IDENTIFICATION                       S.B. 285, 303, & 304:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 285 (as reported without amendment)

Senate Bill 303 (as reported without amendment)

Senate Bill 304 (as reported without amendment

Sponsor:  Senator Lana Theis (S.B 285)

               Senator Tom Barrett (S.B. 303)

               Senator Curtis S. VanderWall (S.B. 304)

Committee:  Elections

CONTENT

Senate Bill 285 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

-- Require an applicant for an absentee ballot to present an original or copy of identification to the clerk of the city or township in which the elector was registered or attach a copy of the identification to his or her application.

-- Require the clerk or assistant clerk to issue an applicant a provisional absentee ballot if the applicant could not present or attach identification to his or her application.

-- Require a statement describing the identification requirement to be included in the instructions for applicants for absent voter ballots.

-- Require an applicant for an absentee ballot who was an absent uniformed services voter, overseas voter, or an applicant for an emergency absentee ballot to include a copy of his or her identification with his or her application.

-- Require provisional absentee ballots issued under the bill to be processed in the same way as a provisional ballot would be processed currently under the Law.

Senate Bill 303 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

-- Remove references to an affidavit that an elector may sign if he or she does not have identification for election purposes.

-- Require an elector without identification to be issued a provisional ballot that would be processed in the manner prescribed under Section 523a of the Law.

-- Remove language pertaining to affidavit reports that must be transmitted to both the county clerk and the Secretary of State (SOS).

Senate Bill 304 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

-- Specify that a notice provided to an elector who was issued a provisional ballot would have to indicate that the ballot would be tabulated only if the voter verified his or her voter registration record with the clerk by presenting identification and specified documents within six days after the election.

-- Require the notice to include information stating that certain individuals would be eligible to have the fee waived for obtaining an official State personal identification card.

-- Prohibit the tabulation of a provisional ballot unless a valid voter registration for that elector could be verified by the elector or if the identity and residence of the elector could be established using identification or identification and other documentation.

MCL 168.759 et al. (S.B. 285)                                        Legislative Analyst:  Dana Adams

       168.523 et al (S.B. 303)

       168.523a & 168.813 (S.B. 304)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  6-7-21                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.