LANSING, Mich. — A new Michigan law will automatically enroll newly released prisoners to vote, making it the first state to require this.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4983 late last year. It requires the Secretary of State's office and the Department of Corrections to automatically register eligible people to vote once they are released.
Democratic state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou sponsored the bill. She said it's a big step for voter rights, especially for a population that's been historically disenfranchised.
"If someone's eligible to return into our communities, they should be eligible to vote and have a say in how we are governed," Rep. Tsernoglou said.
The law won't take effect until June of 2025. However, the Department of Corrections has already been working to help register this population. This law will make this effort a requirement.
Rep. Tsernoglou said research shows this could help prevent them from re-offending.
"When citizens are engaged, returning citizens are engaged actively in the community and in voting and other community type involvement, there's actually a lower recidivism rate," Rep. Tsernoglou said. "There's just more connection to the community as a whole and being a positive citizen."
This is all part of a wave of statewide legislation that aims to expand voting access, something she hopes will push Michigan to the forefront and inspire other states.
"It's been my goal and is going to continue to be my goal is to make Michigan the number one state for voting access," Rep. Tsernoglou said, "Just expand our process of democracy as much as I can."
New legislation also includes House Bill 4569 which will allow anyone as young as 16 to be able to pre-register to vote. They would automatically be able to cast their ballot in the first election following their 18th birthday.
Governor Whitmer signed this into law on Nov. 30. It's set to take effect on Feb. 13.
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