OVERSEAS MILITARY ABSENTEE VOTING S.B. 721:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 721 (as introduced 8-5-09)
Sponsor: Senator Roger Kahn, M.D.
Committee: Campaign and Election Oversight
Date Completed: 2-2-10
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow a member of the Armed Services outside of the United States to vote as an absent voter by fax or e-mail.
Specifically, a member of the Armed Services outside of the U.S. who was eligible to vote as an absent voter in any local or State election could transmit by facsimile, or scan and transmit by e-mail, to the city, village, or township clerk his or her completed absent voter ballot. In addition, he or she would have to complete and sign the printed statement on the back of the absent voter ballot return envelope and transmit it by facsimile, or scan and transmit the statement by electronic mail, to the city, village, or township clerk.
An absent voter ballot transmitted by fax or e-mail would have to be processed in the same manner as any other absent voter ballot voted by mail. The Secretary of State would have to promulgate rules to implement the bill.
MCL 168.759a Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
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. sb721/0910