The Pew Center, a nationally recognized research organization, has praised Michigan’s elections systems as a “high performer” based on multiple objective measures of election performance, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced on Aug. 10.
“It’s no secret that Michigan has an excellent elections system and that’s thanks to all of the hard work of our state’s county, city and township election officials,” Johnson said. “But this national praise shouldn’t be a reason to stop improving. We can make Michigan the best by passing full online voter registration and secure absentee voting in the Legislature.”
Michigan would have scored even higher if two key reforms proposed by Johnson gained the support of the Legislature. Johnson continues to work with lawmakers to approve expanded secure online voter registration and allowing voters to cast an absentee ballot without having to mark a reason if they show identification at the clerk’s office.
Michigan received partial credit for online voter registration because already residents who are registered to vote in the state can update their voter registration address online at ExpressSOS.com.
Pew election researchers in particular complimented Michigan for data completeness, reducing the number of reported absentee ballot issues and for having more ballots from military and overseas voters returned and accepted.
The Secretary of State Mobile Office has been wrapped with new messaging that
promotes Michigan Department of State programs and services, including references to the “Hop
Online” campaign and a kangaroo encouraging people to visit ExpressSOS.com. The
back of the Mobile Office reminds people about Michigan’s Recreation Passport,
one of the best deals you can find anywhere.
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