2009 House Bill 5456

Allow automatic absentee ballot mailings

Introduced in the House

Sept. 23, 2009

Introduced by Rep. Fred Miller (D-31)

To require local governments to maintain a permanent absent voter list, and to require local elections clerks to automatically send an absentee ballot before each election to any qualified “elector” (registered voter) who requests that he or she be placed on the list. Note: A recent circuit court case ruled that Detroit could not automatically send out absentee ballots to voters who had received them in previous elections, because state law only authorizes that absentee ballots be sent to those who specifically ask for them.

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics

Jan. 27, 2010

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Feb. 9, 2010

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R-45)

To limit the bill's scope to voter age 60 or more.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Dave Hildenbrand (R-86)

To allow clerks to strike a voter from the proposed automatic absentee ballot mailing list if he or she had not voted in the past year, rather than in the past four years.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R-45)

To limit the bill's scope only to voters age 60 and more, and voters on active military duty.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 83 to 22 (details)

Received in the Senate

Feb. 10, 2010

Referred to the Committee on Campaign and Election Oversight