Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a Republican-authored bill prohibiting straight-party voting in MI. The $5 million appropriation makes the new law immune from being overturned by voters in a referendum.
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MI is among 10 states to let voters support an entire ticket of one party’s candidates with a single mark. Local clerks have said the option has helped speed voting lines, which tend to get quite long, especially in urban areas during presidential election years.
“Michigan joins 40 other states that require voters to select an individual for each elective office, rather than simply selecting a political party”, Snyder wrote in a letter explaining why he signed the bill.
The Republican governor says Tuesday “it’s time to choose people over politics”.
A bill to allow no-reason absentee voting is stalled in the state Senate, where Republican leaders oppose it. Dillon said the governor’s call for no-reason absentee voting is “lip service” on the issue.
It was approved last month, with legislators also removing a tie-bar for no-reason absentee voting at the last minute.
“This law will make it harder for people to vote in Michigan, and that’s just plain wrong”, said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, noting local clerks’ opposition.
Straight-party voting is generally seen as an electoral advantage for Democrats. Voters twice before have preserved the straight-ticket option in referendums. “Voters should have at least 15 days to vote by absentee before election day”.
Snyder also faces intense lobbying from school and municipal groups to veto another election bill that would prevent local governments from distributing factual information about ballot questions.
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Snyder has until next week to decide.
