State Rep. Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres) Tuesday welcomed testimony from Baldwin Township Clerk Cathy Pittsley at the Election Integrity Committee. Pittsley testified in support of House Bill 4356, sponsored by Hoadley, who is also a member of the committee. The bill proposes that the Michigan Secretary of State’s office contact registered voters who have not voted in the past 10 years or more. These individuals would receive a prepaid, preaddressed return card requesting them to confirm their address with their local city or township clerk.

“Even in a very small precinct, there is skepticism regarding our elections,” testified Pittsley. She went on to cite how a majority of absentee ballots sent out by her township were returned in person for certainty of their vote being counted. 

Recipients of the proposed Secretary of State’s return card must verify their address with their local clerk at least 15 days prior to the next election or confirm their address at the polls when they next vote. Individuals who neither respond, vote, nor verify their address by the second November general election following receipt of the mailing from the Secretary of State will be removed from the Qualified Voter File (QVF).

“The committee has received many presentations and testimony of firsthand experiences with the integrity of the QVF being a common theme,” Hoadley said.  “House Bill 4356 is a step toward regaining voter confidence in the integrity of our elections.”

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