Michigan Attorney General on Tuesday announced she has joined a coalition of other Democratic state attorneys general in opposition to U.S. House Resolution 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
The AGs argue the SAVE Act’s photo identification requirements for voters is overly burdensome, despite 84% of Gallup Poll respondents approving of the measure.
“Michigan has fought tirelessly to ensure our elections are fair, accessible, and secure,” Nessel said in a statement. “The SAVE Act threatens to unravel decades of progress by imposing costly, burdensome voter registration requirements designed not to protect democracy, but to suppress voter turnout. I stand proudly with my colleagues in opposition to H.R. 22, which undermines the fundamental rights of voters.”
In the letter to House Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the coalition assert only 0.0001% of votes cast in last November’s election were by non-citizens. They also claim that the SAVE Act “would impose substantial burdens on eligible voters, particularly affecting poor and minority communities.”
Rep. Bryan Posthumus, R-Rockford, introduced a proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution in January that is similar in nature to the SAVE Act.
House Joint Resolution B, would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Currently in Michigan, proof of citizenship is unnecessary for an individual to register to vote, despite laws that allow for same-day registration and voting.
If passed, HJR B would impact the same-day registration process by requiring additional documentation before an individual is allowed to vote.
Michigan voters are asked to show a photo ID at the polls, but those without it can still vote by signing an affidavit affirming their identity. Critics argue that requiring additional proof of citizenship could make voter registration more difficult for some eligible voters, particularly those without easy access to documents like birth certificates or passports.
“This is a no-brainer. Only U.S. citizens should vote in our elections,” said Posthumus in a statement. “And people should have to show ID when voting to prove that they are who they say they are. That’s just common sense.”
Posthumus’ remarks address Nessel’s stated concern, “Over 21 million voting-age citizens do not have ready access to a passport, birth record, or naturalization record,” adding that some citizens may not be able to afford photo ID.
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Rep. Posthumus’ plan provides a simple solution.
“That’s the only reasonable argument against requiring photo ID to vote – opponents say that some people can’t get it,” Posthumus said. “That’s ridiculous because to function as an adult in our society today, you need ID, but just to make sure that isn’t a stumbling block, the state will have to provide photo ID for free to people who cannot afford it. Problem solved.”
HJR B seeks to make elections fairer while ensuring that only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections.
“No citizen should ever have their vote canceled out by a non-citizen voting the opposite direction,” Posthumus said.
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The resolution is heading into the next House Session in Michigan to face the next steps. Since HJR B is a joint resolution to the Michigan Constitution, it will require a two-thirds vote in the Michigan House and Senate before it can be placed on the ballot for voter approval.