Legislation promoted by Secure MI Vote aims to require photo IDs at the polls. | Adobe Stock
Legislation promoted by Secure MI Vote aims to require photo IDs at the polls. | Adobe Stock
A Holland-area community leader has voiced support in favor of increased voter identification requirements, which has been an ongoing conversation throughout the state.
The poll, commissioned by Americans for Citizen Voting, surveyed 1,011 likely 2022 General Election Michigan voters. Among results, it found more than 75% of participants supported a requirement to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote, while support among black residents in the state was even higher at 79%.
"This poll proved what everyone already believed in. Providing a photo ID while voting is a common-sense way of ensuring election integrity," Orlando Estrada, a Holland-area community leader, told the Holland Reporter. "I speak with community members all the time and almost everyone already votes with an ID.”
Estrada was a former precinct delegate. He also previously ran to be a state representative for District 90.
In late 2021, the Michigan State Legislature passed measures that would have increased identification requirements for both in-person and absentee voting, though Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ultimately vetoed the legislation, the Detroit News reports.
"To be clear, there is no evidence that use of affidavit ballots is related to voter fraud," Whitmer wrote in a letter announcing her veto. "In fact, the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee recently concluded that the 2020 election produced no significant evidence of fraud.”
According to the Michigan Secretary of State website, voters are not currently required to present a photo ID to register to vote or while at the polls. A utility bill or bank statement in the voter's name will suffice in place of the photo ID.
Secure MI Vote, a political campaign aimed at changing Michigan's voting laws to make them more "secure," is promoting new legislation, which would require photo IDs at the polls, an ID or Social Security Number for an absentee ballot, create standard guidelines for absentee ballot collection and drop-off boxes, prohibit the unsolicited distribution of absentee ballot applications and ban private donations to fund election infrastructure.
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