Michigan Republicans now trying to gut recently approved voting rights expansion

(Ed. note: An earlier version of this story stated that the changes need a supermajority vote to pass. They only need a majority vote. The story has been updated.)

Michigan voters across both parties on Nov. 6 approved by a wide margin a citizen-led ballot initiative to make it easier to vote in Michigan.

The Promote the Vote ballot proposal passed 67-33 percent and, among other provisions, it will allow the state to automatically register a resident to vote when they get a driver’s license or state identification card.

But Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) is now floating new bills that would roll back parts of the law before it takes effect, such as one that would allow a automatically register a person to vote when they got state identifications or driver’s licenses.

The new law voters approved in November also allows residents to register to vote through election day, but a second bill introduced on Thursday by Republicans would limit residents’ ability to register during the 14 days before an election.

The changes need a majority vote and Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature to become law.

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