ALLOW DIFFERENT ADDRESSES

FOR DRIVER LICENSE AND VOTING

House Bills 4447 and 4448, without amendment

Sponsor:  Rep. Rebekah Warren

Committee:  Ethics and Elections

Complete to 7-24-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4447 & 4448 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

The bills would amend the Michigan Election Law and the Michigan Vehicle Code, respectively, to permit a voter to have a different resident address on his or her driver license from that recorded in the qualified voter file.  A more detailed explanation follows.

House Bill 4447 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.509o) to specify that, regardless of any provision of law to the contrary, an individual could change the residence address on an operator's or chauffeur's license issued under the Michigan Vehicle Code, or on an official state personal identification card, without changing the address for purposes of the qualified voter file.  Or, the reverse would be possible under the bill.  That is, an individual could change the address on the qualified voter file without changing the residence address on the operator's or chauffeur's license.

House Bill 4448 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.307 and 257.315) to strike out the requirement that the secretary of state use the residence address provided on a driver license application as the applicant's address on the qualified voter file for voter registration and voting. 

The bill would also eliminate the following notice currently used by the secretary of state to inform the applicant that his or her driver license address will serve as his or her address on the qualified voter file:  "NOTICE:  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." 

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

POSITIONS:

            The Services Employees International Union (SEIU) supports the bills.  (7-24-07)

           

            The Secretary of State opposes the bill.  (7-24-07)

            The Michigan Association of County Clerks opposes the bills.  (7-24-07)

            The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks opposes the bills.  (7-24-07)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

■ 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.