Posted on 10/17/2020 3:47:51 PM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed bills that would have made it a felony to knowingly try to apply for multiple absentee ballots or to fill out an application for others without their consent.
The Democratic governor said voter fraud — such as trying to vote more than once — already is a crime, and the Republican-sponsored legislation would “muddy the waters” and “likely confuse voters” about what conduct is criminal. In a letter to lawmakers Friday, she said it is impossible to get a second ballot without spoiling the first one and cautioned that people might submit multiple applications because of memory or error.
“Any suggestion that the filing of a second absentee ballot application is criminal behavior creates needless confusion and fearmongering around the absentee voting process,” Whitmer wrote. “It is bad for voters and bad for our elections.”
The main bill was passed by the GOP-controlled House and Senate on bipartisan 77-26 and 32-6 votes, with some Democrats opposed.
The vetoes drew criticism from one of the sponsors, Republican Rep. Ann Bollin of Brighton Township, who said the bills would have deterred fraud and enhanced voters’ confidence in elections amid “noise” about mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump has raised questions about the integrity of mail voting, but election experts widely say that all forms of voter fraud are extremely rare.
Bollin said the legislation had “nothing” to do with voters who fill out multiple applications or ballots themselves, agreeing there are protections to prevent the issuance of multiple ballots to one person.
“This legislation would have created a felony penalty for someone who fills out an application for another person in an attempt to commit fraud,” Bollin said. “That’s not voter intimidation – it’s voter protection.”
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
What an outright admission of intent to commit fraud.
Thanks for posting. The Michigan Medusa is the most EVIL governor in the history of my wonderful state. It boggles the mind of anyone who is rationally thinking.
She is going to have feds so far up her ass she will be tasting Brill Cream!
I wonder if their state senate can override the veto?
Halfwhitner makes a true half wit looks like a genius.
Witch Gretch looks to be afraid and she should be!
Look at the vote numbers,looks like they have over 2/3 in each chamber
I noticed that. Hope they move forward with overriding it.
Biden just got through praising this bee otch
This was a no brainer bill to sign. The fact that Twitmer vetoed shows how much she wants to steal the election for both Biden and herself.
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