MERA's Legislative Testimony

MERA works with members of the Michigan Legislature to reform election laws in accordance with the Legislative Plan. The tables below track MERA's testimony and related bills. Check here for frequent updates.

MERA Testimony 2014
Issues
Bills
MERA Testimony
Status
Splitting MI's Electoral College Vote HB 5974 Sorg, Bedell, Fealk Tabled

MERA Testimony 2013
Issues
Bills
MERA Testimony
Status
Super Precincts, SOS Voter Cancellations HB 4878 White  

MERA Testimony 2012
Issues
Bills
MERA Testimony
Status
Voter ID HB 5061 S 751 S 754 BenDor, Gold Standard Voter ID  
Photo ID for Absentee Ballot HB 5061 BenDor Substitute passed House
Post-Election Audits HB 5062 Shepard Substitute passed House
Qualified Voter File Management S 751 BenDor Passed Senate; in House Cte.
QVF File Management: Challenged ballot conflicts with right to secret ballot; no "voter fraud" S 751 Bedell Passed Senate; in House Cte.
Photo ID to Register S 754 BenDor Passed Senate; in House Cte.
Third Party Voter Registration: restriction is unconstitutional S 754 BenDor, Shepard Passed Senate; in House Cte.
Third Party Voter Registration: Clerk's conflict, imposition on voters, work-around, partisan purpose S 754 Shepard, BenDor Passed Senate; in House Cte.

MERA Testimony 2009
Issues
Bills
MERA Testimony
Status
No Reason Absentee Voting HB 4097 and HB 4367 BenDor, Shepard Passed by House
Register With Any Clerk HB 4383 and HB 4993 BenDor, Shepard Reported with recommendation
Allow voter adddress to differ from driver address HB 4373 and HB 4374 Bedell, Shepard In Committee
Registration On Line HB 4539 and HB 4540 BenDor, Shepard, White Reported with recommendation

Jan BenDor (MERA) and Rep. George Cushingberry address
a press conference on two anti-caging bills (6/20/08).
Senate Conference Room 352, State Capitol

MERA Testimony 2008
Issues
Bills/Cte.
MERA Testimony
Status
Allow voter address different from driver address. HB 4447, 4448 Bedell, Shepard Passed House
Allow no-reason absentee voting. HB 4048   Reported to House Floor
Allow mailing of absent voter ballot applications without request. HB 4553   Passed House
Allow any Michigan clerk to register or confirm voter identity in person for any MI jurisdiction. HB 4774, HB 5739 Bendor,Shepard Passed House
Early Voting HB 4090 Bendor,Shepard In Committee
E-voting security, Enforcement, Voter Access Senate - Campaign and Election Oversight Bedell, Foster, Shepard  
Tabulators, Enforcement & Recalls Senate - Campaign and Election Oversight Fealk, Lirones