WEST OLIVE, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, May 19, 2022) – Efforts to reform some of Michigan’s election laws and rules before the November 8th General Election appear to be gathering steam in Lansing.
Following a Tuesday press conference in which Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson spotlighted four pieces of legislation she would like to see passed, a national non-partisan election reform group – Secure Democracy – threw its support over the most controversial of those measures, which would allow pre-processing of absentee ballots before Election Day. That’s a measure that also has the backing of Republican Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck.
“When you think about election workers working a full day’s shift – 18, 19, 20 hours – and in our larger cities they’re working longer than that, processing your ballots,” he said on “WHTC Talk of the Town” during his monthly appearance on Tuesday, “I don’t think that’s an environment that lends itself to the greatest amount of accuracy, because people are tired, people have worked a long day.”
More funding, increased penalties for those who threaten or harass election workers, and allowing military service members and spouses overseas to return ballots electronically are the other reforms that Benson is endorsing. Some Republicans are scoffing at this package, with expected Benson challenger Kristina Karamo calling Benson’s press conference a “systemic election corruption expansion merchandising event.”
Comments