The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 22, 2023
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Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Last November, Michigan voters passed Promote the Vote Question 2, dramatically expanding the freedom to vote in Michigan’s state constitution. Despite its 60% mandate, some partisans complain that voters didn’t understand the amendment and were misled.
Bills have just been filed to codify Question 2, which includes a minimum of 9 days of early voting, a permanent absentee voter list, and prepaid postage, curing, tracking for absentee ballots, among several reforms. House Bill 4695 is one of a number of bills revising current election law, in this case to allow early voting. Other bills address early processing of absentee ballots and voter ID options.
HB 4695 offers flexibility for local officials to implement early voting, for which local clerks are already preparing. VoteBeat Michigan reports that the City of Detroit, with its 500,000 registered voters, is adapting its satellite voting centers for three weeks of early voting. Rural Hillsdale County will likely have one voting center open for the minimum nine days.
Some legislators continue to try to discredit Question 2 and the bills to codify it, using words like “bait and switch,” and QUOTE “Prop 2 was largely passed on lies.” But Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in her testimony, “They are, and reflect, national best practices . . .”
We have links to the bills and to the state’s 2022 Question 2 explainer for voters, on AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Michigan Proposal 2, Voting Policies in Constitution Amendment (2022)
Bridge MI / Votebeat Michigan – Michigan begins ‘new chapter for voting.’ What changes are coming in 2024
WKAR – Voting rights bills moving through House, Senate
Michigan Legislature – HOUSE BILL NO. 4695
Michigan Legislature – Explainer for 2022’s Question 2
Bridge MI / Votebeat Michigan – Michigan moves to adopt early voting; Republicans say efforts go too far
Groups Taking Action:
Promote the Vote MI (website not working), Voters Not Politicians, NAACP Michigan State Conference, Michigan Farmers Union, League of Women Voters MI
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