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Secretary Benson statement on House passage of voting rights bills

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today made the following statement regarding House passage of bills (HB 4210, HB 4567, HB 4568 and HB 4570) to expand voting rights in Michigan:
 
“The people of Michigan believe in democracy. Today, the House acted on the will of the people and passed bills to strengthen democracy in our state.
 
“At a time when voting rights are under attack at the federal level and in other states, I’m proud that Michigan is a leader in protecting and strengthening our fundamental right to participate in elections. These bills keep our polling sites accessible for everyone and ensure the continued security of our absentee voting system.  
 
“Military spouses, children, and families join service members in making significant sacrifices in service to our nation. Under current law, Michigan is the only state in the nation that allows members of the military serving overseas to return their ballot electronically but excludes military spouses and their dependents from this same option. House Bill 4210 corrects that and joins Michigan with the majority of states granting a secure option for service members and their families while they are all overseas. I’m grateful to Rep. Glanville and all who honor the service of our military families with this important legislation.
 
“The fight continues to protect every voice and every vote in Michigan. I’m continuing my work with legislative leaders to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MVRA) by the end of the year. The MVRA is essential to protect the access voters have today and ensure our election system remains secure and accessible for all eligible citizens.”

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