LaSata Introduces Election Legislation

electiongood3-47
electiongood3-47

Michigan legislative Republicans this week introduced several bills they say are intended to improve the state’s elections. Among the 39 bills in the package are two from state Senator Kim LaSata. She tells WSJM News Senate Bill 281 would require the secretary of state to request information from multistate compacts each year to verify the current residency of voters and either confirm, remove, or add them to the rolls. LaSata tells us the most recent election brought some issues to light.

“What I did understand from people, they were getting applications for absentee ballots at their homes for people that had been deceased for years or who had moved numerous years ago, and so this has to be cleaned up,” LaSata said.

LaSata says it’s important to ensure elections are protected.

“I’m most concerned about our local elections. If we have any problems locally in our election system, that can just really flip the whole dynamic of a community.”

LaSata’s second bill, Senate Bill 302, would require voters to affirm on their registration form that they are not registered to vote in any other jurisdiction. Other bills in the package would require voters to submit a photo ID, prohibit the unsolicited mass mailing of absentee ballot applications, and restrict the hours in which people could drop their ballot in curbside boxes.