New Michigan Election Rules Aim to Protect Poll Workers, Streamline Certification

While some of the new policies had bipartisan support, many Republicans opposed most of them, arguing they could jeopardize election security.

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Michigan’s new in-person voting rules match those of 21 other states that offer the option, and build on reforms passed by voters in 2018 that allowed every voter the opportunity to vote absentee.

Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest changes voters may see in the 2024 cycle.

Election Certification Fences

New election certification laws align Michigan with federal Election Counting Reform Actwhich was introduced to Congress with several GOP co-sponsors and signed into law last year by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Among other things, federal law makes clear that the vice president has a “ministerial” responsibility to count the electoral votes that states send to Congress, contradicting former President Donald Trump’s claim that Mike Pence could and should have blocked the certification of the 2020 presidential election. year.

new Michigan law similarly states that party canvassers in elections at both the county and state levels have a “ministerial, clerical and non-discretionary duty” to certify results based on results collected by local clerks.

The Michigan measure also speeds up the deadline for the election campaign and clarifies that only the governor can submit a slate of presidential electors to Congress. It also changes the nomination process for the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers.

Protecting Poll Workers

A new law makes it a crime to intimidate or otherwise threaten election officials to prevent them from performing their duties. Penalties start at 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 for a first offense.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, at the November press conferencesaid the changes will “protect the people who defend democracy” and help combat the rise in intimidation of election workers that has increased in recent cycles.

Another law signed last year gave would-be election workers the opportunity to apply online.

Absentee voting tracking and processing

In late September, Michigan clerks began sending out absentee ballots for the Nov. 5 general election.

Procedurally, cities and towns of any size are now allowed to process and tabulate absentee ballots between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the Monday before Election Day or any of the eight days before Election Day if the municipality has more than 5,000 residents.

Pre-processing rules can speed up vote counting in communities that chose to take advantage of this opportunity, although not all did.

Clerks cannot report any results until the polls close at 8:00 pm on Election Day.

No-excuse absentee voting approved by voters in 2018 become a popular option to vote in Michigan – more than 1.6 million voters requested absentee ballots weeks before the 2022 general election.

Starting this year, voters can sign up for email or text alerts to track the status of their ballots after they are cast.

The stricter tracking system also requires election officials to notify voters if their application or ballot has been rejected, along with the reason why and how to resolve any problems.

Permanent absentee voting

Instead of submitting a new absentee ballot application for each election cycle, voters can vote by mail in each election by submitting one application.

Registered voters who choose this option will receive an absentee ballot for all future elections unless they withdraw their application, move without updating their registration address, or fail to vote for six consecutive years.

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Voters can apply online and participate in the ongoing program. through the Secretary of State or by contacting your local clerk’s office.

Don’t worry about finding a stamp, either—the changes also require election officials to provide prepaid postage for mail related to absentee voting.

Early voting

Local clerks are now required to provide a minimum of nine days of early voting, eight hours a day, before statewide elections, starting from the second Saturday before the election until the Sunday before the election. They could allow longer early voting periods if they choose, as the proposal and subsequent laws would allow up to 29 days of early voting in statewide elections.

For the general election, clerks were scheduled to begin offering early in-person voting on Oct. 26. Detroit, Canton Township and East Lansing decided to start earlier.

While voters in recent cycles were able to request, complete and submit an absentee ballot in person, early voters this year were able to see voting booths, poll workers and the “I Voted” stickers that are synonymous with Election Day. They also had to personally enter their ballots into a tabulator that would count them.

More time to count military votes

Beginning in 2024, absentee ballots cast by military or overseas voters will be given more time to be counted, even if they arrive after Election Day.

The usual deadline to vote is 8:00 pm on election day. But under new election laws, if an out-of-country or military vote was postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the clerk within six days of the election, the ballot will be added to the final vote count.

Pre-registration for teenagers

The voting age remains 18, but 16- and 17-year-old Michiganders will be able to pre-register to vote so they will be automatically registered when they turn 18.

This option is available until the teen turns 18 in less than six months, at which point they will have to wait until their birthday to register.

Deep fakes disclaimer

This year, Michigan officials are looking to prevent “deep fakes” in political campaigns as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly persuasive.

New laws require disclaimer in any election advertising or political content that has been digitally altered using artificial intelligence. Failure to do so may result in severe criminal penalties. Proponents of the changes fear that if left unchecked, such content could be used to spread false information that could influence election results.

Voter ID

Lawmakers last year approved legislation expanding voter identification forms accepted at polling places. Options include a U.S. Voter ID, Tribal Photo ID, Military ID, or Student ID in addition to a person’s driver’s license.

Voters without identification are still allowed to sign an affidavit verifying their identity in order to vote. It’s a controversial rule that Republicans oppose and was enshrined in the Constitution under 2022’s Proposition 2.

More boxes, fewer areas

Every Michigan municipality is now required to have at least one secure ballot drop box for absent voters in future elections, as well as an additional ballot drop box for every 15,000 registered voters.