An act to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled “An act to reorganize, consolidate, and add to the election laws; to provide for election officials and prescribe their powers and duties; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, state agencies, and state and local officials and employees; to provide for the nomination and election of candidates for public office; to provide for the resignation, removal, and recall of certain public officers; to provide for the filling of vacancies in public office; to provide for and regulate primaries and elections; to provide for the purity of elections; to guard against the abuse of the elective franchise; to define violations of this act; to provide appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal certain acts and all other acts inconsistent with this act,” by amending sections 493a, 500a, and 501 (MCL 168.493a, 168.500a, and 168.501), section 493a as added by 2018 PA 603 and sections 500a and 501 as amended by 2018 PA 125, and by adding section 493b.
House Bills 4983, 4984, 4985, and 4986 would modify Michigan’s automatic voter registration procedures and clarify an individual’s ability to opt out of automatic registration. The bills would take effect June 30, 2025. Currently, the Michigan Election Law requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to automatically register all qualified electors who submit applications or change of address applications for driver’s licenses or state personal ID cards (or enhanced versions of those forms of ID) to vote, as long as the elector does not opt out of registration. 1 The SOS can only register applicants who indicate on the form that they are citizens of the United States. (An applicant for a license or ID card must present documentation verifying their legal presence in the United States, identity, and Michigan residency.) The SOS must add the required information to the Qualified Voter File (QVF) and forward the name of each voter automatically registered to their respective city or township clerk. The SOS may not transmit any information to the QVF if the individual opts out of voter registration.
Co-sponsored by Reps.
Referred to the Committee on Elections
Reported with substitute H-1
Substitute H-1 concurred in by voice vote
1. Amend page 3, line 3, after the first “this” by striking out “subsection” and inserting “section”.
2. Amend page 5, line 7, after the first “this” by striking out “subsection” and inserting “section”.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Passed in the House 56 to 52 (details)
Motion to give immediate effect
by
The motion prevailed by voice vote
Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics
Reported with substitute S-1
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Reported with substitute S-2
Substitute S-2 concurred in by voice vote
Passed in the Senate 24 to 14 (details)
Substitute S-2 concurred in 56 to 53 (details)
