Bill would reform process for investigation of elections in Michigan

A pair of bills looking to reform the way Michigan elections can be investigated passed through a state House Committee this week.

Senate Bills 603 and 604 would specify that county canvassers would not investigate allegations of election fraud.

House Elections Committee member Jay DeBoyer, a Republican from St. Clair County’s Clay Township, had an exchange with one of the bill’s authors, Democratic state Senator Stephanie Chang of Detroit.

“Removal of the ability of the Board of Canvassers to do an investigation,” DeJoyer said. “Why do we want to remove that right?”

“In our conversations with Republican and Democratic county clerks, it became very clear that they don’t investigate and that they’re not trained to investigate. And they’re not doing their job. I trust our county clerk to know best how this should be handled,” Chang said.

That, according to the legislation, is to refer any suspicion of election irregularities to prosecutors.

Both bills passed the House Elections Committee on party line votes of six to two, Democrats in favor, Republicans against.