LANSING – In an effort to make it easier for citizens to register to vote and empower first-time voters, State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) today threw her support behind a bipartisan plan that will allow citizens to register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot at any clerk's office in the state.
"Everyone deserves equal access to the political process," Byrum said. "The right to vote is the bedrock of a democratic society. As a State Representative, it is my job to do everything I can to encourage voter participation in Michigan and ensure that all our residents have a voice."
The plan that passed the House today will allow Michigan citizens to register to vote at any clerk's office in the state, regardless of where they vote on Election Day and what address is on their driver's license. It increases access to voting for citizens such as college students who live at school but often are registered to vote where their families live.
The plan also makes it easier for first-time voters to get an absentee ballot. Currently, a first-time voter must request an absentee ballot by proving their identity in person at their clerk's office. The plan passed today allows voters to prove their identity at any clerk's office in the state to obtain an absentee ballot from their home district.
"The youth of Michigan are the future of our state, and we should do everything we can to encourage them to get involved in the political process," Byrum said. "Unfortunately, college students often have to jump through several hoops to register in the city where they are attending school. Voting is a right that no citizen should be denied, and this plan will ensure that more of our residents have their voices heard."