Thread: Republican Governor of Michigan Rejects Voter ID Bills

Republican Governor of Michigan Rejects Voter ID Bills

By STEVEN YACCINO
Published: July 3, 2012

Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan surprised his fellow Republicans on Tuesday, refusing to sign two bills that would have required voters to show photo identification before obtaining an absentee ballot. The vetoes are an election-year rarity for the party, which has pressed for tougher voter identification laws nationwide.

The bills were among three that Mr. Snyder returned to legislators after approving 11 other measures in a package of election changes based on proposals by Michigan’s secretary of state, Ruth Johnson. They were passed by lawmakers two weeks ago. “These reforms will make a good election system even better by adding appropriate safeguards and improving transparency,” Mr. Snyder said. He said the vetoed bills “could create voter confusion among absentee voters.”

Sara Wurfel, a spokeswoman for the governor, said that confusion had to do with a part of the bills that would have made voters check a citizenship box before receiving a ballot. Mr. Snyder suggested that verification of a person’s citizenship should be done only once, when a voter is first registered, she said.

The third bill Mr. Snyder vetoed would have required training for people involved in the state’s voter registration process, expressing concern that it might also cause confusion before the November election.

Republican lawmakers believed those issues had been addressed, said Ari Adler, press secretary for the Republican House speaker, Jase Bolger. “Those bills dealt with what we determined to be very reasonable reforms,” Mr. Adler said.

Michigan already requires photos for those voting in person.

A political novice in his first term, Mr. Snyder has often talked about the need for “relentless positive action” in politics instead of partisan bickering. His vetoes come as many Republicans nationwide are fighting for tighter voter ID laws, saying they are necessary to prevent voter fraud. Democrats have argued that such measures suppress turnout of more liberal-leaning voters like minorities and students.

So far, 33 states have passed some form of voter identification law, though in three states — Wisconsin, Mississippi and New Hampshire — those laws are not yet in effect.

“Voter ID falls on very stark partisan lines, and there are very few exceptions to that,” said Jennie Bowser at the National Conference of State Legislatures. “It’s unusual and notable when somebody crosses it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/us...ck-snyder.html

You are kidding me! Seriously!?!?

W

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