Michigan on Thursday became the first U.S. state to automatically register people to vote when they are released from prison, part of a slew of new election laws that also affect artificial intelligence, harassment and young voters.
House Bill 4983, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, requires the Secretary of State’s office and Department of Corrections to ensure eligible people are registered to vote when released from incarceration. It takes effect June 30, 2025.
“Our democracy works best when every citizen is able to participate” Kim Murphy-Kovalick, programs director for advocacy group Voters Not Politicians, said in a statement.
When convicted of a felony, Michiganders lose their right to vote while they’re behind bars. But after being released, they may not know they can reclaim that right. Under the new law, ex-prisoners would get a letter in the mail notifying them they’ve been newly registered to vote, as well as giving them the option to decline.
This story was originally published by MLive. Read more here: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2023/12/michigan-is-first-state-to-automatically-register-ex-prisoners-to-vote.html
