H.B. 4226: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - VOTING: PICTURED I.D.

House Bill 4226 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Mark Schauer

Date Completed: 4-8-97

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to remove a current requirement that a voter present an official State identification card, a driver's license, or other generally recognized picture identification card before being given a ballot at each election. The bill also would delete another provision that requires an elector to sign an affidavit before being allowed to vote if he or she does not have a pictured identification, and allows a vote without the required identification to be challenged under the provisions of the Election Law.

The provisions in the Election Law that the bill would remove were added by Public Act 583 of 1996. (In January 1997, the Attorney General issued an opinion that the provisions in question violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Opinion of the Attorney General No. 6930).)

MCL 168.523 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The requirement regarding picture identification was never implemented; therefore, the bill would have no fiscal impact.

- Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman

S9798\S4226SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.