Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires anyone applying for an absentee ballot to present a form of ID as part of their application.

Highlights:

• Requires an applicant for an absent voter ballot to either provide his or her driver license number or official state personal identification card number on the application, provide the last 4 digits of his or her Social Security number on the application, or present an original or a copy of identification for election purposes to the clerk of the city or township in which the elector is registered or attach a copy of identification for election purposes to his or her application (Sec. 759-4).

• Establishes a person making a false statement in this absent voter ballot application is guilty of a misdemeanor. Ballot applications must state that it is a violation of Michigan election law for a person other than those listed in the instructions to return, offer to return, agree to return, or solicit to return your absent voter ballot application to the clerk (Sec. 759-5).

• Authorizes an absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter who is not registered, but possesses the qualifications of an elector can apply for registration by using the federal postcard application (Sec. 759a-1).

• Prohibits a county, city, township, or village clerk from electronically transmitting or mailing as appropriate an absent voter ballot to each absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter who applied for an absent voter ballot 45 days or more before the election (Sec. 759a-5).

• Classifies ab "absent uniformed services voter" as any of the following (Sec. 759a-17.a):

• A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, because of being on active duty, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote;

• A member of the merchant marine who, because of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or

• A spouse or dependent of a member who, because of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote.

• Requires each city and township clerk shall have access to the most current Department of State data system that contains all of the following information for an individual for the clerk to verify the identity of an elector who submits an absent voter ballot application (Sec. 760a):

• The last 4 digits of an individual's Social Security number; and

• An individual's driver’s license number or official state personal identification card number.

• Specifies if an applicant does not provide his or her driver license number or official state personal identification card number, provide the last 4 digits of his or her Social Security number, or present or attach identification for election purposes, the clerk must issue the applicant a provisional absent voter ballot (Sec. 761-1).

• Specifies if an elector obtains his or her absent voter ballot in person from the clerk of the city or township in which he or she is registered, the clerk of the city or township shall not provide an absent voter ballot to that elector until the elector identifies himself or herself to the clerk by providing his or her driver license number or official state personal identification card number, providing the last 4 digits of his or her Social Security number, or presenting an original or a copy of identification for election purposes (Sec. 761-6).

Full Bill Text