Macomb Today

Michigan Sen. Kevin Daley (R-Lum) and other Republican legislators have introduced a package of 30 election reform bills designed to improved security at ballot drop boxes, strengthen the rights of poll challengers and poll watchers, clean up outdated voter lists and require identification for in-person voting.

“In America, we should be able to trust the results of an election — win or  lose,” Daley told Macomb Today. “Unfortunately, after the 2020 election, I heard from countless people who feel their vote was overlooked. A concerning number of voters I have discussed the issue with have stated they have lost trust in our elections. Nothing is more important than the integrity of our elections.”

The bills that were introduced as part of the election integrity package cover a wide variety of issues dealing with processes before, during and after an election.

Sen. Kevin Daley | SenatorKevinDaley.com

Elected to represent Michigan’s 31st Senate District in 2018, Daley is the state senator for the counties of Bay, Lapeer and Tuscola.

A recent poll conducted by Remington Research Group found that an overwhelming majority of Michigan voters want to increase election security through measures like requiring an ID to vote, according to Americans for Citizen Voting. More than 75% of voters support “requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote."

Michigan voters are currently not required to present a photo ID to register or to vote. A utility bill or bank statement would be an acceptable proof of address if it were needed, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's website.

One group is seeking to act on the apparent support for new election laws is Secure MI Vote. The organization is a political campaign aimed at changing Michigan's voting laws to make them more  "secure." They are promoting new legislation, which would require photo IDs at the polls, an ID or Social Security number for an absentee ballot, create standard guidelines for absentee ballot collection and drop-off boxes, prohibit the unsolicited distribution of absentee ballot applications and ban private donations to fund election infrastructure.                     

In late 2021, the Michigan State Legislature overwhelmingly passed measures that would have increased identification requirements for both in-person and absentee voting, according to The Detroit News. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) vetoed the legislation.

"To be clear, there is no evidence that use of affidavit ballots is related to voter fraud," Whitmer told The Detroit News. "In fact, the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee recently concluded that the 2020 election produced no significant evidence of fraud."

Daley was among the sponsors of the legislation vetoed by Whitmer last year.              

"Last year, I sponsored legislation that would have made election fraud a felony in Michigan, but the governor chose to veto this legislation just weeks before the election,” Daley said on his website. “I am proud to  have sponsored that legislation last year, and I am proud to be a part of the comprehensive reform that was introduced today. It is our duty to restore faith in the election process, and I believe these bills will spur a meaningful change in our state.”