I don't know if any diaries have been done on this story - connection is currently very slow and crappy, and I've a limited amount of time here, so mondo apologies if it has happened.
Over at the Political State Report, someone posted this article about a disagreement between MI Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) concerning an absentee ballot bill.
Apparently, the bill requires people to give a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.
The voting systems and election laws in Michigan need to be upgraded in order to get $80 million in federal funds for new equipment, etc. This clause was put in the bill that accomplishes the overhaul. I don't know, admittedly, if they have the right to refuse absentee ballots based on reason or not.
I don't want to veer into tinfoil hat territory, but my question is this: I know of many people who plan on voting absentee because they don't trust electronic voting - is this designed to keep people from doing that (i.e., "don't trust the machines" isn't a good enough reason, therefore you have to use the machines)? Is this yet another way in which an election can be thrown?
This could have staggering repercussions, forcing us to vote on crooked machines to guarantee a pre-arranged outcome and removing the possibility of absentee voting to circumvent it.
WF
(who shouldn't post after 4 hours sleep, Fruit Loops, and coffee)