Oakland County, Michigan, July 1, 2008 -- Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, joined efforts this week to bring "no-reason" absentee voting to Michigan.

Currently, Michigan law requires that voters who want to vote by absentee ballot meet certain criteria. Senate Bill 12, however, would allow voters to vote absentee ballot without any limitations.

Senators Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and Sen. Gilda Z. Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) announced their "No Excuses Voting Initiative" this week that supports the passage of Senate Bill 12. Johnson was on hand at a Farmington Hills rally to lend support.

"Voting is a fundamental right and we need as many people as possible to be engaged in the democratic process," Johnson said. "Everyone - voters with small children, those without transportation, employees required to work long shifts or those with overwhelming family obligations at home - should have the opportunity to vote absentee if it is more convenient. Should people have to choose between voting and their child's recital? Their soccer game?"

"This is not a partisan issue," Johnson said. "As long as we maintain the integrity of the process, through technology and new laws, no-reason absentee voting can work."

More than a dozen local clerks attended Tuesday's rally supporting no-reason absentee voting, including Farmington Hills Clerk Kathy Dornan, Birmingham Clerk Nancy Weiss, Orion Township Clerk Jill Bastian, Bloomfield Township Clerk Jan Roncelli, Groveland Township Clerk Pam Mazich, Auburn Hills City Clerk Linda Shannon, Southfield City Clerk Nancy Banks, Franklin Village Clerk Eileen Pulker and Oak Park Clerk Sandra Gadd.

Local clerks said no-reason absentee voting could improve voter turnout, help shorten lines on Election Day and eliminate barriers to voting for Oakland County and state voters.

About half of U.S. states and territories already allow no-reason absentee voting. To get an absentee ballot in Michigan, however, voters must:

• Be age 60 or older.
• Plan to be out of their voting district on Election Day.
• Indicate they cannot vote on Election Day for religious reasons.
• Be incarcerated awaiting trial.
• Indicate they require assistance at the polls.

SB 12 has been referred to the Michigan Senate Campaign and Election Oversight Committee for review. Johnson urged members of the public to contact their local legislator to urge support for no-reason absentee voting.