In a move aimed at increasing voter participation, state Rep. Jeff Irwin has announced a plan to allow any Michigan resident to vote by absentee ballot without giving a reason. “Increasing voter turnout is crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy,” Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, said in a statement.
“We should do everything we can to ensure that every voter who wants to vote has that opportunity to exercise their rights and hold lawmakers accountable. This plan has strong bipartisan support and will simply make it easier for people to vote.”
Currently, Michigan residents are only allowed to vote by absentee ballot if they expect to be absent from the community in which they are registered on Election Day, are physically unable to make it to the polls without assistance, cannot make it to the polls due to their religious beliefs, have been appointed as an election precinct inspector in a precinct other than their home precinct, are age 60 or older, or are incarcerated awaiting trial or arraignment.
Full Article: http://www.annarbor.com/news/jeff-irwin-introducing-legislation-to-allow-michigan-residents-to-vote-absentee-for-any-reason/