LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A Michigan lawmaker wants to make sure the Secretary of State keeps the voter rolls up-to-date.
Ten years of inaction.
Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres) introduced House Bill 4356 that he says will restore confidence in Michigan’s Qualified Voter File (QVF). It would require the Michigan Secretary of State’s office to contact registered voters who haven’t voted in at least 10 years. In addition, the bill would require the state to send a prepaid postage and preaddressed return card to those individuals. They must verify their address with a local clerk within 15 days of the next election, or affirm their address at the polls when they vote.
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Those who do not respond would be removed from the QVF.
“The inaccuracy of Michigan’s voter rolls is a legitimate concern,” Hoadley said. “Inaccurate information in the QVF can undermine voter confidence in the system. After failed lawsuits to clean up to rolls, my bill simply instructs the Secretary of State to send postage to a voter to verify the most accurate voter information is on file.”
The Election Integrity Committee has several irons in the fire.
The bill has been referred to the House Election Integrity Committee. It’s the same committee that is going toe-to-toe with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over her refusal to release unredacted election training materials. The committee served Benson with a subpoena last week to turn over the materials by a May 14 deadline. Benson has implied she will fight the subpoena in court.
Earlier this month, an audit released by Benson’s office showed at least 15 noncitizens voted in Michigan’s last election. One is a Chinese national who is a student at the University of Michigan. He was MIA at a recent court hearing.