Whitmer signs bills on election safety, clean energy and increased tribal input in foster care

(Michigan Advance) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a batch of bills Monday that includes the establishment of guidelines to support fair and free elections, gives tribal governments more say in foster care decisions, and allows homeowners to implement clean energy home improvements.

Senate Bill 603, sponsored by state Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), would allow recounts of precincts that have a mismatch between the number of ballots and the ballots issued to voters recorded in a polling place’s log or the ballots that were tabulated. It also updates the filing fee for recounts to better account for the costs involved and clarifies that county canvassers don’t have the authority to investigate voter fraud, leaving the authority to law enforcement.

“Today, with the signing of our common-sense recount law reforms, we are strengthening our democracy and ensuring that we reach the most accurate count of the ballots possible during a recount process,” said Chang. “Too many close races in the past led to precincts that were not able to be recounted due to our outdated law, and today we close those gaps. These laws achieve critical goals of protecting the security of every vote, modernizing our recount process, and uplifting the voices of Michigan voters.”

Complimenting that legislation is Senate Bill 604, sponsored by state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). It changes the sentencing guidelines for certain Michigan election law violations, specifically making it a five-year felony to interfere with a recount or activities relating to a recount. ...................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/07/08/whitmer-signs-bills-on-election-safety-clean-energy-and-increased-tribal-input-in-foster-care/