- 10/31/11 10:41 AM ET
Senior Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Monday requested a hearing on how changes to state voting laws — including those that require people to present photo identification before voting — might be making it tougher for people to vote.
"These changes in state voting laws raise serious constitutional concerns under both the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the 15th Amendment," Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Subcommittee on the Constitution ranking member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter to Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas).
Other laws they want assessed are those that don't allow people to present certain forms of identification, such as a Social Security card, those that require proof of citizenship, and those that preclude same-day voter registration.
Disputes over how to properly identify legal voters have risen over the last year, as some states have sought to require these sorts of changes in order to help prevent illegal residents from voting. But Democrats in particular have opposed these changes, and many have said they would have the effect of making it harder for blacks to vote.
The letter from Conyers and Nadler sites a study from the Brennan Center for Justice that said these changes would hurt minority voters. "The report concluded that African-American and Hispanic voters were more likely to take advantage of early voting opportunities and register to vote through the types of voter registration drives now curtailed or eliminated by the new laws," they wrote.
"In view of the gravity of this situation, we urge you to schedule hearings soon to address an issue so critical to our democracy," they concluded.
Here is a sample of Michigan election reform Bills.
Senate Bill 750: Authorize criminal penalties for extreme campaign finance scofflaws
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on October 12, 2011, to authorize criminal penalties of up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine for candidates and campaign treasurers who fail to file mandated campaign finance reports after an extended period of time specified in the bill. Contributions and other assets of the campaign committee would be subject to state seizure. These sanctions would only apply to campaign committees with balances of more than $20,000.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
Senate Bill 751: Establish inactive voter file and procedures
Introduced by Sen. David Robertson (R) on October 12, 2011, to require the Secretary of State to create an inactive voter file within the qualified voter file (QVF), which would contain a record for each voter who was sent a notice by a local clerk who had received information that the voter had moved. If a remained in the inactive voter file for an extended period specified in the bill, the voter registration would be canceled. Also, to require the Secretary of State to notify a voter who appears to have left the state, and after an extended period of time specified in the bill has passed, establish a process for canceling the voter registration if no response is received.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
Senate Bill 752: Ban “stealth conventions” by minor political parties
Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R) on October 12, 2011, to require minor political parties to notify the Secretary of State of the date of any upcoming county caucus or state convention to nominate candidates. This would prohibit schemes like the “stealth convention” and candidate nominations organized by a fake “Tea Party” political party in 2010. The bill would also revise the procedures for absentee ballot counting boards.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
Senate Bill 753: Authorize criminal penalties for extreme campaign finance scofflaws
Introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R) on October 12, 2011, to establish sentencing guidelines for the penalties proposed by Senate Bill 750 for candidates and campaign treasurers who fail to file mandated campaign finance reports after an extended period.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
Senate Bill 754: Regulate “third-party voter registration organizations”
Introduced by Sen. Mark Jansen (R) on October 12, 2011, to require “third-party voter registration organizations” to register with the state, turn in late registrations within 24 hours, provide their “voter registration agents” with state approved instruction in proper procedures, and require the agents to sign a statement affirming that he or she has received the instruction. The bill would also require a person to show a photo identification when registering to vote.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
House Bill 5058: Restrict using campaign contributions for politicians' criminal defense
Introduced by Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R) on October 12, 2011, to prohibit a political candidate committee from using campaign contributions to defend or pay the legal costs of an elected or appointed official in a civil or criminal action, except for cases involving campaign finance issues, a recall campaign, a recount, or actions that tangibly benefit the nomination or election of the candidate.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
House Bill 5059: Revise ballot question and political party campaign finance details
Introduced by Rep. Sharon Tyler (R) on October 12, 2011, to revise details of the campaign finance statements and reporting deadlines that apply to ballot question and political party committees. Among other things, the bill pplies some of these regulations to a party attempting to qualify as a new political party.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
House Bill 5060: Revise absentee voting procedure detail
Introduced by Rep. Cindy Denby (R) on October 12, 2011, to modify the regulations that apply to absentee voting so that they explicitly apply to a person who applies for an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office and presents photo identification.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
House Bill 5061: Require photo ID when applying in person for absentee ballot
Introduced by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R) on October 12, 2011, to require a person to have photo identification when applying in person for an absentee ballot; require local governments to use a state ballot tracker program if it available; and require the Secretary of State to develop information displays indicating that ballot coaching in residential care facilities for the elderly is prohibited.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
House Bill 5062: Establish continuing education program for local election clerks
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Forlini (R) on October 12, 2011, to require the Secretary of State to establish a continuing election education program for all local election clerks; establish a post election audit program that identifies the documents and procedures for such audits; and make other miscellaneous changes to the Michigan election law.
http://www.michiganvotes.org/
Brennenn Report on Voting Law Changes in 2012
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
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