New state legislation might make it easier for Michigan residents serving abroad in the military to cast absentee votes and to have them counted in time for Election Day.
Operation: Make Our Troops Count is a proposal that would allow service men and women abroad to receive absentee votes electronically via e-mail and then mail them to their local county clerk. Getting the ballots to the troops faster hopefully would make absentee voting more efficient, state Rep. Jon Switalski, D-Warren, said. The plan for the legislation was announced July 2 in Macomb County by state Rep. Vincent Gregory, D-Southfield, and was developed by county clerks in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.
Calls to Gregory’s office Monday were not returned.
Switalski, a supporter of the bill, said a concern was raised after the Pew Center on the States released data suggesting Michigan was doing a poor job at counting the absentee votes of its soldiers on time.
“Earlier this year the Pew Center … offered a report suggesting that Michigan is one of 16 states that is failing when it comes to counting military votes overseas by absentee ballot on time,” Switalski said.
Of the 154 absentee ballots issued overseas from the East Lansing City Clerk’s Office — including both military and civilian voters — only about 1 percent were returned in time to have the votes count, East Lansing City Clerk Nicole Evans said.
Evans said she supported the legislation, but was wary of issues like voter fraud.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Evans said. “They definitely will need to have safeguards in place to minimize the possibility of hackers.”
State Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said that although he supported the cause of helping Michigan military members vote, he favored legislation of his own that would allow for a completely electronic absentee voting process.
“I think in addition they should be able to electronically send it back,” Jones said. “To prevent someone serving their country from voting is a terrible injustice.”
Switalski said it is important for residents of Michigan who are in the military to be able to have their votes count.
“I think there is an absolute need for these military folks to have their vote counted on Election Day,” Switalski said. “I mean, you know, when we’re voting for president, their fates and their futures are determined in large part by the commander-in-chief and I think every legislator should have a keen interest in supporting military folks.”
Maj. Martin Lepak, scholarship and enrollment officer for the MSU Army ROTC, did not fill out an absentee ballot while he was in Kuwait and Southern Iraq between December 2004 and December 2005, but said having votes counted is important to soldiers.
“As soldiers, we’re obviously willing to put our lives on the line,” Lepak said. “Being involved in the political process is important even though we’re in a unique situation.”
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