Gov.

Snyder signs bill eliminating straight-party ticket ballot

option, asks Legislature to enact no-reason absentee voting
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016
LANSING, Mich. Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation that will update
election law, aligning Michigan more closely with other states by eliminating the
option for voters to select a straight-party ticket on the ballot.
Michigan is one of only 10 states that allows residents to vote for just a party
affiliation rather than individual people. Its time to choose people over politics,
Snyder said. To alleviate concerns that this change could lead to longer wait
times for voters, Im asking the Legislature to enact secured no-reason absentee
voting.
Senate Bill 13, sponsored by state Sen. Marty Knollenberg, is now Public Act
268 of 2015. It contains an appropriation of $5 million for the purchase of new
voting equipment to ease Election Day logistical concerns.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Michigan is one of
only 13 states that does not allow for some form of early or no-reason absentee
voting. In the letter explaining his position further, the governor calls on the
Senate to pass House Bill 4724, to allow for secure forms of no-reason absentee
voting, which will help to alleviate the possibility of longer wait times at polling
locations.
For more information on this and other legislation, please
visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
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Related Documents
SB 13 signing letter