Voting Access Scorecard - The franchise project

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Voting Access Scorecard - Michigan

The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Michigan. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.

Currently, Michigan ranks 47. But you can make a difference! Take action now!

Overall score: 11 / 30

Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality

State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8726_47669-176447--,00.html		N
State offers Election Day registration
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8726_47669-176447--,00.html		N
State has automatic registration
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8726_47669-176447--,00.html		N
State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification)
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633-49313--,00.html		Y
State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633-49313--,00.html		Y
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-29836-202483--F,00.html		N
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-29836-202483--F,00.html		N
State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-29836-202483--F,00.html		N
State holds all elections entirely by mail
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html 		N
State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html 		N
State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery)
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html 		Y
State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html		N
State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html		N
State allows voters to register online
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8726_47669-176447--,00.html		N
State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online
Michigan Secretary of State: https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/votersearch.aspx		N
State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online
Michigan Secretary of State: https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/		Y
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day
Photo ID is required, but if you do not have a photo ID, you can sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot. Michigan Secretary of State: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/Voting_Brochure2012English_498055_7.pdf 		N
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail
Photo ID is required, but if you do not have a photo ID, you can sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot. Michigan Secretary of State: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/Voting_Brochure2012English_498055_7.pdf 		N
If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all)
If you do not have a photo ID, you can sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot. Michigan Secretary of State: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/Voting_Brochure2012English_498055_7.pdf 		Y
During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form
Michigan Compiled Laws 168.509aa: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3pn1nsxexmepzxrw5g10qgpu))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName;=mcl-116-1954-XXIII ("If the address information is incorrect and the voter has not moved to another city or township and wishes to remain registered to vote, the voter should complete and return the card to the clerk with a postmark of 30 days or more before the date of the next election. If the card is not completed and returned with a postmark of 30 days or more before the date of the next election, the voter may be required to affirm his or her current address before being permitted to vote.")		Y
State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck
Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) 		N
State is Member of ERIC
ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) 		N
State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request
Michigan will provide the publicly available data. Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/03/trump-election-panel-michigan/103395200/		N
State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete
M.C.L. § 168.758b: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(fzdnmgzuq3rwqzgt3dm5fiij))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname;=mcl-168-758b		Y
State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration
Michigan Compiled Laws § 168.758b: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(fzdnmgzuq3rwqzgt3dm5fiij))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname;=mcl-168-758b		N
State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole
M.C.L. § 168.758b: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(fzdnmgzuq3rwqzgt3dm5fiij))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname;=mcl-168-758b		Y
State voting technology requires a paper trail
M.C.L. § 168.795: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(tlxmniihx21mkohnuimknaj1))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName;=mcl-168-795		Y
State requires poll worker training
Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.683; 168.677(3): http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(c4sb4hi0223ijmtswkbjgic4))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname;=mcl-168-683		Y
State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification
No federal requirements mentioned. M.C.L. § 168.795a: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(tlxmniihx21mkohnuimknaj1))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName;=mcl-168-795a		N
State provides readily accessible voting technology information
Michigan Secretary of State: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_45458---,00.html		Y

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