Straight-ticket voting ban speeds through Michigan Senate with shield against repeal
Source: MLive Politics
LANSING, MI — Michigan voters would lose the ability to cast a straight-ticket ballot for candidates of a single political party under fast-tracked legislation approved Tuesday evening in the state Senate.
The Republican-backed bill advanced through committee earlier the same day before reaching the floor, where it was amended to include a $1 million appropriation that would make it immune to referendum.
Michigan voters overturned a similar law in 2002 after Democrats forced a ballot referendum via petition drive.
The new bill would provide funding to the Michigan Secretary of State to assess the impact of eliminating straight-ticket voting, assist in ongoing fraud prevention and "provide equipment to facilitate the integrity of the election process," among other things.
Sen. Dave Robertson, R-Grand Blanc, called the appropriation "entirely legitimate," but critics pointed out that most state spending decisions are made during the budget process, not within policy bills.
"Let's not lie to each other, and let's not lie to voters of this state. This appropriation is a $1 million insurance policy against the will of the people," said Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-Meridian Township.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/11/straight-ticket_voting_ban_spe.html
Question: How much more will Michigan Voters suck up buttercup when it comes to integrity of their State Government?
A legitimate question considering The Center of Public Integrity (TCOPI) rated Michigan dead last out of 50 States, or a F- when it relates to Governmental Accountability, Ethics or Integrity.
An F-, let that sink in for a minute as....
Michigan's Republican controlled Senate has done it again. Done what, you ask.
Ensured that when the Center of Public Integrity rates all things Great Lakes Blue when it comes to Government next time, the State will receive a F--, if such a rating can ever exist.
The only area Michigan could manage to squeeze any letter grade over an C+ was related to Electoral Oversight, with a B.
Less than three days after TCOPI issued its latest annual report, State Republicans are determined to knock the scale down about three levels, to match Michigan's overall integrity rating, an F.
Read Here: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/11/voter-suppression-bill-fast-tracks-in.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
I would be tied in knots over what the MI legislature is doing! It's bad enough to live in a RED district of a solid blue state - but it's way more comfortable than living in the oppressive political climate of Michigan! 
Faygo Kid, welcome back to this miserable hellhole, and DU. 
Our state politicians are just sooo busy screwing each other to bother with all us "citizens" or fix our crumbling roads. When I came here, Bill Milliken was Governor,; boy have the Repukes changed - I think they're actually trying kill this state.
Remember rest stops? They're gone. Thanks Engler....
S.E. Michigan portion, more Democrats than Republicans vote Straight Ticket. Plus the GOP is making their bold attempt to Rig An Election AGAIN....this time to have Michigan's 16 Electoral Votes count for the Republican POTUS nominee since the days of Poppi Bush.
This wraps up a year-long inquiry based on a complaint filed by Democratic leaders. The investigation focused on the leap by state Representative Roy Schmidt of Grand Rapids from the Democrats to the Republicans.
Bolger encouraged and helped arrange the party switch, which added one more vote to his House Republican majority. They also tried to recruit a sham Democrat to appear on the ballot opposite Schmidt.
The plot was uncovered and the candidate dropped out after it was revealed he didn’t live in the district.
The Kent County prosecutor also found no evidence of a crime, but Schmidt lost his reelection bid.
The grand jury records will be sealed, but the judge says, upon request, she will file an affidavit clearing anyone publicly named as a target of the inquiry.
http://michiganradio.org/post/grand-juror-clears-bolger-schmidt-crimes-election-scandal
That's who it ROLLS in Michigan....
Could anybody have with straight-ticket voting? I just don't get it? 
Now can fill the box at near the top of a ballot deciding to vote straight Democrat or Republican in the General Election, then flip the ballot over to vote in Non-Parisian elections and any proposals, millage's or referendums on the ballot. The process for most voters electing straight ticket would go from 5-10 minutes in the voting booth, to up over 45 minutes -- depending on how long the ballot proposals, millage's and referendums language is.
Republicans got a plan, and that is to suppress voters in Michigan from taking time to participate in voting by making the process LONGER and voting lines LONGER to discourage voting....in hope to have Michigan's 16 Electoral Votes be awarded to the Republican POTUS candidate in the General Election. 
Michigan Republicans do this on purpose, just like with the Right to Work for Less Bill, the Emergency Manager Law 2.0 and a host of other mess they've rammed though -- they place an appropriation to the measure to ensure the People have no recourse speak to power. 
With the Party of Voter Suppression -- the Republican Party-- that is....
It does. Which makes the GOP happy
Right to Vote but since Michigan is not one of the Protected States under the US Justice Department Review before making changes to the voting law, they can get away with this.
