ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION

INTERFACE AND APPLICATION

House Bill 5548 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Julie Calley

House Bill 5549 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Michael Webber

Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Complete to 3-7-18

SUMMARY:

House Bill 5548 would add Section 509ii to the Michigan Election Law to require the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and maintain an electronic voter registration interface by January 1, 2019. (Proposed MCL 168.509ii)

Beginning on that date, voters could use the interface to submit an electronic voter application under House Bill 5549. (MCL 168.509m et al.)

The interface required under HB 5548 would do all of the following:

·         Transmit the application to the qualified voter file.

·         Interact with the driver’s license and official personal ID card files for authentication purposes.

·         Authenticate the identity of an applicant under a process developed by the SOS that includes verifying the applicant’s date of birth, the last 4 digits of the applicant’s Social Security number, and the applicant’s driver’s license or personal ID card number and the name and eye color on the card.

·         Require the applicant’s assent to submit an application electronically and to use his or her most recent digitized signature from an application for a driver’s license or personal ID card.

·         Issue a receipt to the applicant.

HB 5548 would also require the SOS to develop an electronic voter registration application, which may be used by those qualifying as electors who possess a state personal ID card or driver’s license.

An individual could not use the interface to submit a voter application if he or she ordered a duplicate driver’s license or state personal ID card on the same day or submitted a change of address for one of those cards in the previous 10 days. Additionally, an individual with an expired driver’s license or state personal ID card could not use the interface.

HB 5549 would require a voter who had registered to vote using the electronic application to vote in person and provide identification if that person had not previously voted in person in Michigan.

The bills are tie-barred together, meaning that neither could take effect unless both were enacted. They would each take effect 90 days after enactment.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bills would have little or no cost to the Department of State and no fiscal impact on local units of government. According to the Department, the requirement from HB 5548 for the Secretary of State to develop an electronic voter registration interface can largely be fulfilled through the existing customer-facing ExpressSOS system. Additional costs from modifications necessary to fulfil the requirements in the bills should be able to be included as a part of ongoing information system modernization efforts within the Department.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Michael Cnossen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.