Election Law Bills Could Be On Fast-Track

Two bills revamping election laws in Michigan could be on the fast-track to approval.

One bill, which would allow people to vote absentee without giving a reason, passed out of a committee Wednesday even though it wasn’t on the agenda.

And a measure to eliminate straight-ticket voting is on the same committee’s docket Thursday.

State Representative Lisa Poshtumus-Lyons chairs the House Elections Committee and says she’d like to get both bills through the House and Senate and on to the governor before the end of the year – and before the March presidential primary.

Under the no-reason absentee voting bill, people could go to their local county clerk’s office, show an ID and get an absentee ballot.

They could then vote on the spot or take the ballot home.

Straight-ticket voting allows people to vote for all candidates from one political party by checking a box at the top of their ballot.