LANSING, MI (WTVB) – State Representative Jennifer Wortz has issued a statement defending House Bill 5717, aiming to clarify what she described as “misleading statements” regarding the proposed election legislation.
Wortz argued that the bill is a necessary response to the growing operational strain on local governments following constitutional amendments passed by voters in 2018 and 2022.
These changes, which introduced no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, and same-day registration, have drastically increased workloads and led to severe clerk and deputy clerk vacancies across the state.
Under current law, township boards facing vacancies are legally trapped because they are forced to appoint an internal resident to manage elections, a task that has become increasingly difficult to fulfill in rural communities.
The proposed legislation would provide a legal workaround by allowing struggling townships to contract with accredited election personnel from outside their immediate borders if no local qualified employees are available.
Wortz emphasized that this measure is crucial for preserving Michigan’s decentralized election system, warning that persistent vacancies could invite heavy-handed state intervention. She says “Giving them more authority to appoint someone who’s qualified helps maintain local control,” adding that the tool is vital for ensuring municipalities can continue to conduct fair and democratic elections without facing unavoidable legal violations.
Comments