RESIDENT ADDRESS ON DRIVER LICENSE

OR PERSONAL IDCARD & QUALIFIED VOTERFILE

House Bills 4373 and 4374

Sponsor:  Rep. Rebekah Warren

Committee:  Ethics and Elections

Complete to12-1-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4373 - 4374 AS INTRODUCED2-19-09

The bills would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code and the Michigan Election Law, respectively, to permit a resident address on a driver license or personal identification card to be different than the resident address on the qualified voter file.

 

Currently under the law, the secretary of state is required to use the residence address provided on a change of address application as a person's residence address on the qualified voter file for the purpose of voter registration and voting.  Further, the secretary of state must provide a person changing his or her residence address a notice of that fact, as specified in the statute. That notice reads: Michigan law requires that the same address be used for voter registration and driver license purposes.  Therefore, if the residence address you provide in this application differs from your voter registration address as it appears on the qualified voter file, the secretary of state will automatically change your voter registration to match the residence address on this application, after which your voter registration at your former address will no longer be valid for voting purposes.  A new voter registration card, containing the information of your polling place, will be provided to you by the clerk of the jurisdiction where your residence address is located.

House Bill 4373 would eliminate these requirements from the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.307 and 257.315).

House Bill 4374 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.509o) to permit a resident address on a driver license or personal identification card to be different than the resident address on the qualified voter file.

The bill specifies that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an individual may change the residence address on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license issued under the Vehicle Code, or on an official state personal identification card, without changing his or her address for purposes of the qualified voter file, or the reverse.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bills will have no fiscal impact on state or local government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                   Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.