Statement from Republican U.S. Representative Peter Meijer from Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the attack on the US Capitol, 1/6/2021.
Statement from Republican U.S. Representative Peter Meijer from Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the attack on the US Capitol, 1/6/2021.
WASHINGTON – Today the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement ahead of this week’s joint session of Congress to count and certify the Electoral College votes:
“This week, Congress will count the Electoral College votes as required by the Constitution and affirm Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. Any objection to this process is simply political theater which directly mocks and defies our Constitution. Still, these actions will not change the legally proven result of the 2020 election.
“In November, the American people turned out in record numbers to elect the next president of the United States, and the Electoral College confirmed the people's will last month. The electors from each state have certified their results, and the role of Congress this week is to confirm that the votes sent are the ones the electors certified. Congress has no legal ability to change those results.
“While the League believes the Electoral College should be abolished, it is our current system for electing the next president. All elected officials must respect our democracy, accept the outcome of the election, and affirm the will of the people.”
Amen
Gird yourselves for the coming onslaught of misinformation and disinformation between now, the day before the 2020 election ends, and the final results come in. It is possible that if there are legal challenges to election results, the surge of false reports, lies, and misleading images will continue.
An article in the Detroit Free Press, "Heads up, Michigan. Here's what disinformation experts are watching for on Election Day" by Ashley Nerbovig, 11/02/20, covers the kinds of misinformation and disinformation you may be subjected to:
"Given attempts like these [photos and videos of long lines at polling places, stories declaring unofficial winners, and claims of voter fraud] to mislead or deter voters ahead of the election and the possibility that no presidential race winner will be declared on Election Day, researchers and experts on disinformation advise Michiganders to be extra careful about where their information comes from in the next few weeks.
"Misinformation is false information shared by accident or without the knowledge it is false. Disinformation is when someone deliberately creates or shares information that is incorrect to inflict damage, such as telling people the wrong date of the election. Learning what this can look like can slow the spread of false information."
According to the article, researchers with the University of Washington's Election Integrity Project created a list of what to expect in coming weeks:
"To slow the spread of false information, avoid sharing early results from candidates or armchair data scientists. "
This all sounds like good advice to me. Stay calm and consult trusted sources of information.
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See also, "Know your voting rights..." by Josh Peter, USA Today, 10/28/20
I love newspapers. A print newspaper is best, but I can tolerate reading a daily paper that is on-line when it looks like the real thing and is not just columns of articles that you have to link to and hope you didn’t miss anything interesting.
I enjoy the randomness of coming across stories like this one -“Traffic-stopping turkey becoming social media star” on page 2A of today’s Detroit Free Press or “Feds remove protections for wolves; U.P. hunt on?” on page 4A. Will Michigan reinstate a wolf hunting season in the Upper Peninsula? Are cats and dogs next???
The following articles are a sampling of stories that caught my eye. I have provided links to the on-line versions of these articles, so that you don’t have to go out and buy an actual print newspaper.
From the Detroit Free Press, October 30, 2020:
“Michigan sets new restrictions on dining, gatherings as COVID-19 cases rise” by Dave Boucher and Kristen Jordan Shamus
Here is a little background to this story: The Michigan Supreme Court, on 10/2/20, struck down the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act that the Governor used as her authority to issue directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling, however, did not affect other laws relating to public health. Most of the Governor's directives have been re-issued by the head of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
There are other issues, such as extending unemployment benefits, that have been approved by the legislature and replace similar directives previously issued by Governor Whitmer.
Local public health authorities have issued orders that continue those previously ordered by the state. Local businesses and public agencies are also allowed to make rules to preserve health and safety.
Michigan is now experiencing a severe spike in Covid-19 cases. According to the article,
“Cases throughout the state are up almost 94% in the last 14 days, according to data accumulated by the New York Times. As of Wednesday, the seven-day average number of positive cases was 2,365. At its peak in March, the seven-day average never topped 1,800 cases, according to data analyzed by the Free Press.
“Hospitalizations and deaths are also on the rise. More than 500 Michiganders have died from COVID-19 in October, compared with less than 300 in September. Michigan saw more deaths this month than any since May, according to state health data. “
More stringent restrictions have been ordered:
"The regulations include new restrictions on the number of people who may dine together at a bar or restaurant and establish requirements for eateries to keep contact information for dine-in customers.
"The order, issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is intended to mandate mask wearing while in public, limit crowd sizes at private gatherings and in business, and generally promote actions that will stop the spread of the disease.
"The order does not apply to polling places or anywhere else that someone may try to cast a vote. Masks are recommended but not required for people who choose to cast a ballot in person on Tuesday, when polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. “
“Michigan Court of Appeals denies Benson appeal, says open carry at polls is legal”, by Paul Egan, 10/29/20.
The Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a directive to ban the open carry of firearms at the polls.
You may remember pictures from April 2020 of armed men in the state capitol building in Lansing screaming at security guards during demonstrations demanding an end to restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19. Armed men were also allowed to stand in the gallery over the heads of the legislators while the legislature was in session. One legislator had the foresight to wear her bullet proof vest, just in case the situation turned really ugly. At least one of the armed men photographed in the gallery was later arrested in a plot to kidnap and kill Governor Whitmer.
This was all legal under MIchigan's open carry law, although restrictions are allowed in public areas under certain circumstances. Action by the state legislature to restrict the open carry of firearms might have stopped this threatening behavior in the state capitol.
Needless to say, tensions are high and Benson’s directive makes sense to prevent threats of violence at the polls. Her orders were overturned in court, however. Then the Michigan Court of Appeals denied Benson’s appeal of the ruling.
According to the article,
"The open carry of firearms will be permitted at the polls on Election Day, under an order issued Thursday by the Michigan Court of Appeals... "
"...In declining to hear the appeal, the panel said that although concerns about voter intimidation involving firearms are valid, the state already has laws to handle that.'Voter intimidation is — and remains — illegal under current Michigan law,' the panel said.
"Also, 'brandishing a firearm in public is — and remains — illegal under current Michigan law.' Therefore, 'anyone who intimidates a voter in Michigan by brandishing a firearm ... is committing a felony under existing law, and that law is — and remains —enforceable by our executive branch as well as local law enforcement.'"
In addition,
"'Just today, a poll released by the Detroit News and WDIV-TV indicated that 73% of Michigan voters say openly carried guns should be banned near polling places,' Nessel spokesman Ryanend nu Jarvi said. 'The merits of this issue — which impacts all Michiganders — deserves full and expedited consideration by our state’s highest court.'...
“Though Benson's directive remains without force under the Thursday order, existing state law could still prohibit some Michiganders from openly carrying firearms at some polling places. Schools are often used as polling places and guns are generally prohibited on school grounds, though concealed pistol license holders are allowed to open carry on school property.”
Here’s some good news:
"Surprise out-of-network medical bills now illegal in Michigan" by JC Reindl
“When receiving successful treatment to prevent preterm labor, Stacy Leick of White Lake Township underwent a 3D baby ultrasound at a hospital that was in-network with her health insurance company.
"Three months later and back home with her new baby girl, she received an unpleasant surprise in the mail: a $750 medical bill.
"Unknown to her, the radiologist who may have read the ultrasound was a visiting doctor and therefore not in her insurance company's network — so her insurer wouldn't pay his full charges.. The doctor's billing company then went after her for the unpaid balance.”
…"That sort of surprise should no longer happen in Michigan because of new legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after it passed through the state Legislature by wide bipartisan margins.
"The laws forbid medical providers from sending big surprise bills to patients who received emergency care outside of their insurance network, a practice known as balance billing."
Here is a link from the Detroit Free Press to a USA Today article on voting rights, just in time for the November 3rd, 2020 election:
"Know your voting rights: Here's what to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls on Election Day" by Josh Peter, USA Today, 10/28/20
This article covers the basics:
"Voters who already have their ballots are encouraged to return them as soon as possible — by mail NO LATER than Oct.19, or by hand delivering to their clerk’s office or ballot drop box. Ballot drop box locations for individual jurisdictions can be found at Michigan.gov/Vote. All absentee ballot return envelopes must be signed by the voter to be counted."
"...After...Oct. 19,2020, the online registration portal at Michigan.gov/Vote will include several warnings that voters must register in person to vote by or on Nov. 3, with instructions on how to do so."
Where are my clerk’s offices?
Where are my ballot drop boxes?
Where is my polling place?
Am I registered?
What's on the ballot?
Now Vote.
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from The DD News Blog 2012:
This is yet another post about voting in the November 3rd, 2020 election.
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This is based on an article from Bridge Michigan, Michigan's nonpartisan, nonprofit news source, “How to vote early in the November election in Michigan”, by Riley Beggin, 9/22/20
Voting by absentee ballot is already underway in Michigan. Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan Secretary of State, estimates that nearly 3 million Michiganders will vote absentee for the November 3rd, 2020 election, due in part to the expansion of voting rights put in place by a 2018 constitutional amendment that gave all Michiganders the right to vote by mail.
President Trump has been railing against early voting and claiming that if he loses, it will be because of voter fraud caused by mail-in voting. There is no basis for this claim and no one should give up their voting rights because of it. Voting on Election Day (with or without an absentee ballot dropped off at your local clerk’s office) is also an option, although the Covid-19 pandemic has made absentee voting more appealing to vulnerable populations.
You can find out your current status as a Michigan voter at the Secretary of State’s Voter information Website.
Here are excerpts from the Michigan Bridge article:
Step 1: Check your voter registration.
“…All Michigan residents over the age of 18, who are U.S. citizens, who aren’t currently serving a sentence in jail or prison, and who will have lived in the state for at least 30 days by Election Day are eligible to vote. If you have a misdemeanor or felony conviction and have finished your sentence or are being held in jail awaiting trial, you are still eligible to vote. “
[Check to see if you are currently registered. If you are not, you can register to vote on-line until October 19, 2020.]
…“To vote absentee in person, check the hours your local clerk’s office is open and go in. You can apply for an absentee ballot, fill it out and submit it all in one visit until 4 p.m. on Nov. 2.
“If you’re registering for the first time, you can register and cast an in-person absentee ballot on Election Day, Nov. 3”
Step 2: Apply for an absentee ballot.
“Apply online for an absentee ballot to be sent to you in the mail any time before 5 p.m. Oct. 30. You can also download an application, fill it out and return it to your clerk by email, mail, fax or in person. “
[There may be delays in mail delivery, so apply for an absentee ballot in person and hand deliver it to your clerk’s office.]
Step 3: Choose your candidates.
“You don’t have to wait until you get your ballot to begin learning about who is running. See a full list of candidates by entering your voter information here. “
[Another source of voter information comes from the non-partisan League of Women Voters, Vote411 election Information Website. Read the directions on your absentee ballot carefully and make sure you look at the back of the ballot for more election choices.]
Step 4: Sign your ballot envelope.
“Put your ballot inside the secrecy sleeve. Then put that inside the larger envelope. If you forget to include the secrecy sleeve, it’s OK. Election officials will put it in a secrecy sleeve when they take it out to begin processing ballots.
“Be sure to sign the outside of the envelope in the big box indicated for signatures. “
[Follow the instructions carefully]
Step 5: Return your ballot to your clerk.
“There are three options for getting your ballot back to your clerk:
“To drop your ballot in a drop box, first check to see whether your city has them. Visit this website, choose 'who is my clerk?' and enter your address under 'search for your city/township clerk.' Only drop your ballot in drop boxes belonging to the city you received a ballot from. For example, if you’re voting in Ann Arbor, don’t drop your ballot in a Detroit drop box.”
[Avoid mail delays and hand-deliver your ballot to your clerk’s office.]
Step 6: Make sure your clerk received your ballot.
"You can check whether your clerk received your voter application, whether they sent it, and whether they received it online here."
Step 7: If you change your mind or made a mistake, spoil and recast your ballot.
“If you made a mistake, changed your mind, or your ballot looks like it won’t reach your clerk in time, you may want to 'spoil' your ballot and cast a new one. Spoiling a ballot is the same as canceling the old one. “
...”The latest you can spoil a ballot is 4 p.m. on Nov. 2, the day before the election. If you spoil your ballot at the last minute, ask your clerk what your options are to cast your vote. “
Step 8: Celebrate
"If you’ve made it through all of the above steps, it’s time to celebrate — you’ve voted in the 2020 general election."
While President Trump rails against the use of mail-in ballots by voters, claiming, despite evidence to the contrary, that mail-in voting leads to fraud, the dirty little secret is that mail-in or absentee voting is equally beloved by voters in both parties. Both Democrats and Republicans encourage voters to use this method of voting on their Websites. In Michigan, mail-in voting is exactly the same as absentee voting. Absentee ballots are sent to voters after they send in an application. No excuse is necessary.
“Right now, Michigan law prevents clerks from opening any absentee ballot until Election Day. Although the statute is one of several intended to maintain the integrity of votes cast through absentee ballots, it also creates even more work on a day that is already exceedingly stressful for clerks.
“That leads to long days and the potential for mistakes, as seen in Detroit after errors there caused hundreds of workers to remain at the TCF Center (formerly Cobo Center) well past midnight to count absentee ballots in the Aug. 4 primary election. “
Other impediments to counting votes include the requirement that only signed ballots received by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day are valid. In the August 4th primary, many of the10,000 absentee ballots that were rejected, were rejected because they were received after Election Day, even those postmarked before Election Day. Although a bill passed by the Michigan Senate would allow clerks to start processing absentee ballots the day before the election, “[the Secretary of State] Benson wants lawmakers to take up measures that would allow clerks to count absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours of polls closing and would require clerks follow up with voters if they forget to sign their ballot.”
“‘The Bipartisan Policy Center recommends clerks have at least seven days to process absentee ballots before Election Day. This bill allows only ten hours, only minimal processing, and includes a sunset provision that requires clerks to continue their advocacy in years to come,’ Benson said in an emailed statement."
Ruth Johnson, a former Republican Secretary of State, who sponsored the Senate bill allowing the processing of ballots to begin the day before Election Day, is also pushing for more reforms that would alleviate some of the administrative burdens on clerks and make the vote count more efficient.
These are all encouraging signs that legislators are taking more responsibility for improving the voting process and acknowledging that this is good for the state and its citizens.