Great Lakes Wire

Opponents of an effort to secure Michigan's elections with more stringent voter ID requirements allegedly orchestrated a "scheme to pay off" petition circulators, according to Bridge Michigan.

Secure MI Vote is working to advance a ballot proposal that would initiate legislation to require identification in order to vote. Protect MI Vote is a group that is in opposition to the Republican-led ballot measure. The group recently hired a Missouri-based consulting firm to contract with and "secretly buy out" circulators so they would not work for the conservative campaign, Bridge Michigan reported.

Promote the Vote Michigan raised at least $3 million in contributions from out-of-state special interests, including hundreds of thousands from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, according to campaign documents recently made public.

A complaint obtained by Bridge Michigan said the effort violates campaign finance laws. 

Chris Arps, president of Americans for Citizen Voting, explained that the groups backing the opposition to voter ID are powerful Washington-based groups.

"These are not simply well-aligned donors; they are powerful, out-of-state groups that are funding a group to oppose the supermajority of Michiganders who want secured elections," Arps told Great Lakes Wire.  

“Protect MI Vote's scheme to pay off circulators not to engage in the Secure MI Vote initiative petition is deplorable on its face and has no place in Michigan elections," Dustin Wefel, professional signature gatherer, said, according to the complaint that was first reported by The Detroit News.

Most Michiganders, 76%, support showing an ID in order to vote, according to a recent statewide survey. Only 14% of state residents oppose strengthening voter ID requirements.

Voters currently do not have to show a photo ID to register to vote, and a utility bill, paycheck stub, bank statement, or government document showing the resident's name and address serve as a form of ID, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's office.

"Protect MI Vote is only protecting the right to cheat," Jamie Roe, Secure MI Vote spokesperson, said. "We have long heard rumors of Protect MI Vote's illegal scheme but could not prove it until Dustin Wefel bravely came forward to expose it."

Secure MI Vote is trying to get one of more than a dozen petitions on the November ballot, according to Bridge Michigan.

Michiganders can learn more about Secure MI Vote and sign up to receive a petition at their website.