LANSING – The Michigan House narrowly approved a bill to eliminate straight-ticket voting Wednesday and also cleared legislation establishing “secure” no-reason absentee voting with Democrats mostly in staunch opposition to both during a long and contentious session.

Seven hours passed with the House mostly at a standstill before it finally took up SB 13 to eliminate straight-ticket voting – a voter’s ability to vote for a slate of candidates from one party by checking off a single box – and HB 4724, which would allow a voter to bring identification to their local clerk’s office to receive an absentee ballot.

SB 13 passed with the bare minimum amount of votes needed, 54-51 (there are still three vacancies in the House). All Democrats voted no and Republicans Rep. John Bizon of Battle Creek, Rep. Ben Glardon of Owosso, Rep. Martin Howrylak of Troy, Rep. Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs and Rep. Phil Potvin of Cadillac also voted no.

HB 4724 fared a bit better, passing 59-46, with Democrats Rep. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor and Rep. Derek Miller of Warren voting yes with most Republicans and Republicans Rep. Thomas Hooker of Byron Center and Potvin voting no with the rest of the Democrats.

Democrats said the straight-ticket elimination would disenfranchise voters, particularly those of color in populous urban precincts, and the no-reason absentee bill requires a voter to go to their clerk’s office before every election to get an absentee ballot.

Howrylak said he voted against SB 13 because it includes a $5 million appropriation, which makes it referendum proof. He said legislation passed should be able to stand on its own merits.

Rep. Pam Faris (D-Clio) offered amendments to SB 13 to strip the appropriations – a $1 million appropriation was originally in the bill but later removed through a Republican amendment – and then asked for a roll call vote.

Her request was denied and Minority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) then called a point of order asking for a roll call vote. His motion was ruled not proper. Democrats said they were told he did not ask a question.

Singh said: “I am using this point of order to ask you to listen to one-fifth of the members here to demand a record roll call vote at the Constitution demands.”

The House then went at ease while House Republicans and their staff huddled with House Clerk Gary Randall. Singh’s request was not granted.

“They did this because they want the debate struck from the journal. Why strike Singh’s point of order? They have the majority and can vote in favor of the chair’s ruling,” said Katie Carey, spokesperson for House Democrats of the Republicans.

The bill still includes a $5 million appropriation making it referendum proof. Voters rejected a similar law in 2002.

Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit) said barriers should not be put in front of those wanting to vote.

“I take this very personally, because one of the most proud moments I had when I turned 18 is when I went to register to vote. And I took that responsibility very seriously, because I understand the legacy and the history,” she said of African-Americans fighting for the right to vote.

Irwin called the bill electioneering. He also said the bill would lead to longer wait lines at the polls on Election Day.

“If the average wait time is 22 minutes, and some of these folks aren’t waiting at all, that means a whole of other folks are waiting a whole lot longer than 22 minutes,” he said. “And who are these people? The people who are waiting are the people who live in crowded precincts. They live in crowded urban precincts with more voters, more voters per voting booth, more voters per poll worker and that is why they have to wait. … Sometimes they wait hours to vote.”

Singh said Republicans were backing the bill because they have not been able to win education board seats.

“If you can’t win an election fair and square, let’s steal the election. And that is what happening here today,” he said.

But Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) said straight-ticket voting is an antiquated practice from when “party bosses” actually created ballots.

“It is time for change. And it is time for choice,” he said.

And Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto), sponsor of the House bill and chair of the House Elections Committee, said voters should choose candidates based on people, not parties. And she said the no-reason absentee measure would allow for more people to spend more time with their ballots if necessary.

“The simple truth is this is good policy. It’s not pro-Democrat, it’s not pro-Republican. It’s pro-voter,” Lyons said. “Together these bills are good policy. Together they are the right policy. They complement each other and I ask you for your vote on both.”

Amendments adopted to HB 4724 would eliminate a provision that would have required the Election Day rule against campaigning within 100-feet of a polling location to apply to a clerk’s office during the 45 days preceding the election.

Another amendment states it is the Legislature’s intent that the law is invalid if a court finds it is invalid.

Democrats attempted to amend SB 13 at least 19 times, and all failed. Many of the amendments would have tie-barred the legislation to other elections reforms the Democrats support. One amendment would have allowed a person to use their concealed pistol license as voter identification and another would have allowed disabled persons or seniors to skip the lines at the polls.

This story was published by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on www.gongwer.com