FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2023

Contact: Angela Benander

(517) 242-9192

?

Statement from Secretary Benson on House Elections Committee advancing bill to expand voting rights for military families overseas?

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today made the following statement regarding House Elections Committee action on HB 4210, allowing military spouses and dependents deployed overseas to return their ballots electronically:

?

?This legislation recognizes the service, sacrifice, and unique role of military spouses and dependents,? Secretary Benson said. ?I encourage the Legislature to pass this important bill so that all members of our military community serving overseas have the option to securely return their ballots in Michigan elections.?

?

HB 4210 expands the law enacted last year that allows active members of the military to return their ballots electronically while on deployment. A total of 31 states and Washington, DC allow some form of electronic ballots for military service members and their families, but Michigan is currently the only state to grant electronic returns for servicemembers while excluding military spouses and dependents.

?

# # #