Hey there, Michigan.

Before we get into the newsletter, I want to share a little about how my reporting has led to some continuing, real-world impact. I’ve broken a number of stories on the situation in Antrim County, which has helped us all better understand what Clerk Victoria Bishop is accused of and how it could affect voting. Because of that reporting, readers have written to the governor, testified before their county commissioners, and are now seeking to recall their clerk. This is the kind of story I really care about — the kind where voters have questions about what’s going on with their elections, and we can provide tangible answers.

Donating to Votebeat truly helps us provide real information about how elections work. Give any amount to become a member today. Every dollar really does help.

Onward!

I’m wishing you and yours a very happy “absentee ballots are getting mailed today,” which is definitely cause for celebration. 

I actually got my ballot earlier this week, which felt weird — doesn’t it seem like the primary just wrapped up? But such is the pace of elections in Michigan. If you’re wondering what’s on your ballot, I wrote about it right here.

As you can probably imagine, that’s far from the only election-related news right now. One thing I’ve been keeping an eye on: the state’s new Select Committee on Rules and Procedures of the State Board of Canvassers and the Bureau of Elections. The select committee aims to investigate Michigan’s petition process and the random sampling used by the Bureau of Elections, particularly as it relates to the recent ballot proposals heard by the Board of State Canvassers.

Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican from Richland, introduced the committee shortly after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked last month on the Americans for Citizens Voting proposal, which would have asked voters if they wanted to amend the state’s constitution to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement before voting. He called the lack of action “a disgrace.” 

Hall and other Republicans have been placing the blame on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic candidate for governor, for delays in signature analysis by the Bureau of Elections. While the bureau does work in tandem with the Board of State Canvassers, the board makes its decisions independently. The board’s members are chosen by the governor and approved by the Senate.

The select committee is chaired by state Rep. Mike Harris, a Republican from Waterford, who promised in the committee’s first meeting that he intended to bring a “facts first, conclusions second” approach. In the committee’s second meeting, Paul Jacob, the president of the group behind Americans for Citizens Voting, testified about his concerns regarding the delays and other factors he felt could have helped his effort.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem to think this is a partisan effort. Last week, I spoke to state Rep. Mai Xiong, a Democrat from Warren and a member of the committee. She suggested it was Republicans “playing to their base” and told me this wasn’t something she’s hearing about from her constituents.

I’ll keep watching this committee, and I’ll keep you posted on the interesting news. I don’t know if it will result in tangible change, but I do know this isn’t the first time there’s been a desire to see changes to Michigan’s petition process. As I’ve written about before, legislators have tried (and failed) to change the signature-gathering process for years. I’m curious to see if there’s an appetite beyond the Americans for Citizens Voting failure to change the state’s side of the process as well.

And if you’re wondering: The Board of State Canvassers meets again tomorrow to consider recall efforts against Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop. I don’t expect they’ll have much to say about the new select committee, but if they do … you know where to find me.

If you know others who might like to stay up to date on Michigan’s happenings, please encourage them to reach out to me (I’m at [email protected]!) or to sign up for this newsletter right here.

Looking for your next read? Check out these other great newsletters.