LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Election season has arrived, and newly signed laws in Michigan that are supposed to deal with voting fraud and irregularities are not as they seem, according to state Republicans.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised the laws, saying they ensure “fair and free elections that make sure the winner can take office without unnecessary interference.”
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However, “unnecessary interference” appears to be up for debate among Michigan Republicans. One of the measures keeps election canvassers from investigating fraud allegations. Instead, the new law requires them to pass those concerns on to the county prosecutor or the state’s attorney general.
The law specifies a recount is not an investigation on voter fraud or the state’s voting process. Recounts are now only allowed if alleged errors would change the election result.
Embattled Michigan Rep. Neil Friske (R-Cheboygan) said Republicans should file a lawsuit since he said the new laws are unconstitutional.
“In at least ten different places, the law deletes the words ‘fraud or mistake’ and replaces them with the word ‘error, Friske said. “In other places in the law, it deletes even more language about ‘fraudulent’ or ‘illegal’ activity, and even about ‘ballot tampering.'” Friske continued, “This law would essentially say we can’t even look at potential fraud or illegal activity during a recount, which is an absolute outrage, especially when Michigan has 104.5% of the voting-age population of our state registered to vote….”
Representative Jaime Greene said the laws water down checks and balances and identified what she called “red flags.”
“[There is no] system to tell if someone votes in multiple states, a real issue facing the state of Michigan as evidenced by the Secretary of State removing some 170,000 people no longer living here from our voter rolls only after she was sued,” Greene said.
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The laws come as Michigan is already in the throes of absentee voting ahead of the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
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