GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - We're now less than one month away from Election Day. Every Tuesday, 13 ON YOUR SIDE, will be diving into state-wide political issues so that you know exactly what you're voting for.
Proposal 3 is all about voting. It would add several policies to Michigan's constitution, so it is classified as a constitutional amendment.
The political action committee Promote The Vote, is leading the campaign in support of Proposal 3. The Protect My Vote initiative was formed in August, opposing the proposal.
Let's break down the elements.
Prop 3 would allow a qualified Michigan voter to be automatically registered to vote when applying for, renewing or updating a driver's license or state ID, unless they decline. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia use this automatic voter registration method.
It would also allow same-day voter registration. You'd need proof of residency during the two-week period leading up to an election which also includes the day polls open. That means, if you bring in your information, you would be able to register to vote on voting day. This is used in 18 states and Washington D.C.
Another part of the initiative is getting an absentee ballot without giving a reason. That's classified as the No-Excuse Absentee Voting. Currently, 27 states and Washington D.C. use this method.
The final major component of Prop 3 is the straight-ticket voting option.This would allow voters to cast a straight-ticket vote for all candidates in a specific party when voting in the general election. Seven states use straight-ticket voting. In 2016, the Michigan legislature voted to eliminate straight ticket voting. The November election will be the first major election without the straight ticket voting option.
This information along with all of the other proposals can be found on Ballotpedia.org, which educates voters on ballot initiatives across the country. To read the full text of the ballot proposal, click here.
Remember, election day is Nov. 6.
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