No-Reason Absentee Voting

State representative Lisa Lyons (R- Alto) has introduced House Bill 4724 which if passed would allow anyone who is a legal voter in Michigan receive an absentee ballot for any reason, or no reason.

Sound like a good idea to you?

The Lansing State Journal is reporting that the bill would let all legal voters apply for an absentee application in person at their local clerk’s office without needing any reason at all.

My concern is that it could possibly lead to an easier way to vote illegally.  Is it too much to ask a voter to leave their home once a year to cast a vote?

Under Michigan’s current law, an absentee voter must be:

• at least 60 years or older,
• be out of town when the polls are open,
• be an election worker or
• be unable to vote on Election Day due to a physical disability, religious tenets or incarceration.

Under Representative Lyons’ bill you could not receive a “no-reason” absentee ballot by mail. Under her bill you would have to physically go to the clerk’s office within 75 days of every election.

Let’s discuss this tomorrow (Monday) on my program, The Live with Renk show, which airs Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon, to let me know your thoughts at (269) 441-9595.

Or please feel free to start a discussion and write your thoughts in the comment section.