Michigan Senate Votes to Tighten Laws Around Election Recounts

The Michigan Senate has passed a bill to tighten the state’s laws around election recounts, sparking debate among lawmakers. The new legislation includes a requirement that recount petitions must be filed with a good faith belief that the number of challenged votes could change the election outcome.

Senator Stephanie Chang, a co-sponsor of the bill, described the changes as “common sense” and aimed at modernizing the recount law to ensure more accurate results. However, critics of the legislation argue that it could hinder efforts to fight possible fraud in elections.

Senator Ruth Johnson, who served as Michigan Secretary of State, expressed concerns that the new changes would take away the rights of aggrieved candidates to challenge election results in cases of fraud or illegal activity. Republican members also raised issues with the language changes in the bill, which would replace references to “fraud” and “mistakes” with “errors.”

Supporters of the bill argue that canvassing boards, which oversee recounts, do not investigate fraud and that there are other avenues to address suspected fraud. The legislation would also increase the fees for petitioners seeking a recount and provide a new path for previously excluded ballots to be counted under certain criteria.

The bills will now move to the Michigan House of Representatives for further consideration. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.