Michigan GOP Governor Rick Snyder Vetoes Voter ID Bills

Michigan’s Republican Governor Rick Snyder has broken from his parties ranks to veto three voter ID bills that his fellow GOP members believe are necessary to stamp out voter fraud. Opponents of voter ID laws say they do little more than disenfranchise minority groups.

Snyder has vetoed bill H.B. 5061 and bill S.B. 803, both of which would have required voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship and to require a photo ID to pick up an absentee ballot.

Citing what could become “voter confusion among absentee voters” Snyder shot down the bills.

After the veto H.B. 5061 sponsor, State Rep. Brad Jacobsen and S.B. 803 sponsor Sen. Darwin Booher voiced their disappointment with the governor’s veto.

According to Jacobsen:

“I introduced this bill to reduce election fraud and make sure every vote is fairly counted. Like the governor, I don’t want to create any confusion in the upcoming election.”

Meanwhile Booher added:

“All that my measure required was for registered voters to answer whether they are U.S. citizens before being allowed to vote. It is a common-sense solution that corrects the problem of noncitizens voting. Governor Snyder has missed an opportunity today to protect the integrity of our elections process.”

The final bill known as S.B. 754 would have required special training for everyone involved in the voter registration process. Governor Rick Snyder said that bill would “muddle” ongoing voter registration efforts already in place by the state.

Do you think the senator from Michigan made the right choice in vetoing all three Michigan voter ID laws?