ABSENT VOTER REGISTRATION; VOTING H.B. 4481 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4481 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Edward Gaffney, Jr.
House Committee: House Oversight, Elections and Ethics
Senate Committee: Government Operations
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:
-- Allow members of the armed services and overseas voters to register to vote by using the Federal postcard application.
-- Require the Bureau of Elections to disseminate information on registration and voting procedures to absent armed services and overseas voters.
-- Provide that qualified electors who applied to vote as absent voters by Federal postcard application, could vote as absent voters in any local or State election.
-- Delete the requirement that certain individuals who are not registered voters and who live outside the country provide an affidavit with an application for an absent voter ballot.
-- Repeal Section 504, which establishes registration procedures for a person who cannot register in person.
(The Federal postcard application is a postage-free postcard printed and distributed by the Federal Voting Assistance Program for use by absent voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Under that Act, members of the military and U.S. citizens who live abroad are eligible to register and vote in Federal elections.)
MCL 168.759a Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The Department of State reports that the bill would not result in any costs to the State. The bill would have an indeterminate impact on local units of government to the extent that the bill would increase the number of voters who apply to vote as absent voters.
Date Completed: 5-25-05 Fiscal Analyst: Bill Bowerman
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. hb4481/0506