2018 Senate Bill 1241 / Public Act 606

Prescribe rules for early voting and same-day registration

Introduced in the Senate

Nov. 29, 2018

Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-15)

To prescribe details of rules needed to implement the election-day registration and early voting provisions enacted by voter approval of 2018 Proposal 3. The measure eliminated the requirement to register to vote at least 30 days before an election, and authorized “no reason” absentee ballot voting for all voters, mail-in voter registration, automatic registration with drivers license or state ID interactions, and a straight-ticket voting option. The bill is part of a package comprised of Senate Bills 1238 to 1242, and is reportedly intended to prevent an incoming Democratic Secretary of State from making potentially partisan choices in the many parts of state election laws where important details are left to the discretion of state officials and agencies. This bill requires drivers license and state ID application forms to have a space that indicates indicate whether applicants wish to waive the automatic voter registration provision.

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Government Reform

Dec. 6, 2018

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Passed in the Senate 26 to 10 (details)

To prescribe details of rules needed to implement the election-day registration and early voting provisions enacted by voter approval of 2018 Proposal 3. The measure eliminated the requirement to register to vote at least 30 days before an election, and authorized “no reason” absentee ballot voting for all voters, mail-in voter registration, automatic registration with drivers license or state ID interactions, and a straight-ticket voting option. This bill requires drivers license and state ID application forms to have a space that indicates indicate whether applicants wish to waive the automatic voter registration provision.

Received in the House

Dec. 6, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics

Dec. 19, 2018

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

Dec. 20, 2018

Passed in the House 61 to 47 (details)

To prescribe details of rules needed to implement the election-day registration and early voting provisions enacted by voter approval of 2018 Proposal 3. The measure eliminated the requirement to register to vote at least 30 days before an election, and authorized “no reason” absentee ballot voting for all voters, mail-in voter registration, automatic registration with drivers license or state ID interactions, and a straight-ticket voting option. This bill requires drivers license and state ID application forms to have a space that indicates indicate whether applicants wish to waive the automatic voter registration provision.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 28, 2018