Great Lakes Wire

In light of the House Election Integrity Committee's hearing on HJR-B, Suzanne Almeida, Vice President of State Operations for Common Cause, has issued a statement opposing the resolution. The bill is a version of the national SAVE Act and proposes changes that could make voting more challenging.

According to Almeida, HJR-B would impose additional requirements on voters, such as needing to prove U.S. citizenship with specific documents like a passport or birth certificate. This requirement would apply even to those who have been registered voters for many years.

Almeida also highlighted potential logistical issues arising from the bill. She warned that election officials might face excessive administrative burdens leading to long lines and confusion at polling stations.

Another concern raised by Almeida is the risk of "unknown voter purges." If a voter's citizenship cannot be verified under the new rules, they might be removed from voting rolls without notification.

"No matter the name, HJR-B is voter suppression hiding under the mask of election integrity," stated Almeida. She shared that members of Common Cause in Michigan have expressed concerns about how this bill could hinder their ability to vote. "This clear voter suppression bill must be defeated," she emphasized.