ABSENTEE BALLOTS: ALLOW FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS WHO REGISTERED BY MAIL
House Bill 4303
Sponsor: Rep. Dale Sheltrown
Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Complete to 8-20-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4303 AS INTRODUCED 2-27-03
House Bill 4304 would amend the Michigan Election Law to specify that a first-time voter who registered by mail could use an absent voter ballot (provided he or she otherwise met the qualifications for voting by absentee ballot).
Currently the law requires that a person who registers to vote in a jurisdiction by mail must vote in person if he or she has not previously voted in person in that jurisdiction. However, under the law the requirement does not apply to people entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; a person with a disability as defined in the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act; a person who is 60 years of age or older; and a person who is entitled to vote other than in person under any other federal law. House Bill 4304 would retain all of these provisions, and add “a person who is entitled to vote as an absent voter under section 758” of the law.
[Section 168.758 of the Michigan Election Law defines “absent voter” as a registered elector who cannot attend the polls on the day of the election because of physical disability, the tenets of his or her religion, or confinement in jail awaiting arraignment or trial; because of being an election precinct inspector in another precinct; who is 60 years of age or older; or who is absent or expects to be absent from the township or city in which he or she resides during the entire period the polls are open for voting on the day of an election.]
MCL 168.509t
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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.