KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Republicans are defending a bill passed last week that will eliminate straight-ticket voting in Michigan, which opponents say will lead to longer lines on Election Day and discouraged voters.
Rep. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, says Republicans responded to concerns by allocating $5 million for county clerks.
“We need to put in money to show how serious we are to help, so $5 million has been allocated to help alleviate,” O’Brien said.
But Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, says the allocation is unconstitutional because money can’t be combined with policy bills, and claims the appropriation was only inserted to block a referendum. He also says the cash isn’t enough.
“A $5 million appropriation is not going to get to where it needs to go in time, it will not serve the number of precincts it needs, and because they actually rejected the RFP process to buy new voting machines, this isn’t going to happen right away,” Hoadley said.
The bill sits on the governor’s desk.
O’Brien says the legislature will also restart discussions on no-reason absentee voting next month. That piece of legislation was taken off the table during 11th hour straight-ticket voting ban discussions.
– Anthony Pollreisz
