Republican Senator Ruth Johnson chairs the Senate Elections Committee. She says the bill would allow more clerks to pre-process absentee ballots two days before election day.
In 2020, clerks could do that pre-processing one day before the election:
“This process worked very well. The legislation before us would remove the sunset to allow clerks to again use this tool.”
But Michigan Department of State spokesperson Jake Rollow says it doesn’t give enough time for clerks to truly be efficient.
“Two days doesn’t really enable that. It enables them to make a mad dash to try and get everything done.”
If signed, the legislation would take effect in time for this November's election.
