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Dems Want Protections for Military Voters

WKAR File Photo

A former candidate for Michigan Secretary of State is calling on the Snyder administration to reform election laws to make it easier for military personnel overseas to cast their vote.

Michigan faces a federal lawsuit because election officials in at least 70 communities failed to send absentee ballots to military voters overseas 45 days before the August 7th primary. 

Jocelyn Benson was the Democratic nominee for Michigan secretary of state in 2010 who lost to Republican Ruth Johnson.  She’s proposing reforms that include online voter registration and electronic ballot returns.

"This is a no-brainer issue," Benson says.  "Other states are doing this, other states are leading the way; we've done nothing.  And to me, it's a reflection of a lack of priority, and I think the time to act is now."

Benson also supports allowing ballots from Michigan service members to be postmarked by Election Day.  Currently, ballots must be received in Michigan by that date.

 

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Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.