LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a Republican-authored bill prohibiting straight-party voting in Michigan.
It was approved last month, with legislators also removing a tie-bar for no-reason absentee voting at the last minute.
Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow dislikes the straight-ticket ban, but also says no-reason absentee ballots would alleviate the congestion he’s now expecting at polling places on Election Day.
“That is not the cure-all, but it would certainly help,” Snow said. “That’s actually an issue I’ve been promoting for many, many years.”
Snyder is also championing passage of that law.
Republicans say the bill, which removes a practice often favored by Democrats, was needed to force voters to become better informed.
A $5 million appropriation for new voting equipment will shield the law from a possible referendum.
– Anthony Pollreisz
