LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If Michigan Democrats are looking for ways to add to the voting rolls, then the legislation they introduced in May might just do the trick. Their bill, House Bill 4534 amends the Corrections Code to require the Michigan Department of Corrections to provide prisoners with information about Michigan’s voter registration and election processes as part of the department’s community reentry assistance requirements.

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Under the legislation, the Department of Corrections would have to provide information about how the Michigan Election Law does not prohibit an individual from voting once that person is no longer in prison, specific information about how to register to vote and how to cast an absentee ballot, and information about Michigan’s regular election dates.

The bill also would remove a provision that currently requires a prisoner’s refusal to obtain personal identification documents (such as a Social Security card or state identification card) to be included in that prisoner’s parole eligibility report.

With an estimated 6,500 people incarcerated in Michigan’s prison system who are expected to be released this year (19.8% of Michigan’s current imprisoned population), Democrats are looking to the Department of Corrections to add to the current total of 8 million Michiganders who are already registered to vote.

The legislative analysis for the House Fiscal Agency says that the bill will have no fiscal impact on the state or on local units of government. In their analysis, it says, “The Department of Corrections currently provides every individual leaving prison with information on voting. A document that describes voting eligibility and the local clerk’s office, and that gives a website address and a phone number for more detailed information, is provided to each person upon release from prison. Under the bill, the department would be required to provide election dates and information about absentee voting. Revising the current document to include the additional information would have a minimal cost to the department that could be absorbed by existing appropriations.”

Democratic State Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), one of HB 4534’s sponsors and someone who has taught in a Michigan women’s prison, says the bills is important so that the prisoners learn their voting rights. She said, “They will get the opportunity to cast their vote for people who are making decisions on the justice system.

Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Kyle Kaminski says Michigan’s prison system already has a “robust” program of preparing imprisoned criminals for re-entry back into society including information about identification – but the state currently doesn’t provide voter registration information.

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Although Michigan allows incarcerated people to have their voting rights automatically restored once they leave prison, 25 other states do not according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Under Michigan law, inmates who are serving their sentences are still banned from voting.

HB4534 has been referred to the Committee on Elections.