As Livingston County residents watch the legislative session unfold in both Lansing and Washington D.C., a clear pincer movement is developing regarding how we verify who is allowed to vote.
Locally, our own state Rep. Ann Bollin — who knows the mechanics of elections better than most from her years as Brighton Township clerk — is a primary driver of House Joint Resolution B (HJR B). This isn’t just another bill: it’s a proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for every new voter.
At the same time, U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett recently joined his colleagues in the U.S. House to pass the SAVE America Act. While these two pieces of legislation operate at different levels of government, their goal is identical: requiring physical documents like a birth certificate or passport to register.
The strategy is clear.
By pushing HJR B at the state level, Bollin is attempting to lock these requirements into our state’s foundational document, ensuring Michigan has its own safeguards regardless of what happens in D.C.; meanwhile, Barrett’s support for the SAVE Act aims to set a national standard that would apply to all 50 states.
Whether it’s through a state constitutional amendment or federal law, the message from our local representatives is consistent: they believe the current system of “signature as bond” is no longer enough. As these bills move forward — especially as HJR B potentially heads toward a ballot box near you — voters need to decide if they prefer the localized expertise of a former clerk like Bollin or the broad-brush federal approach supported by Barrett.
Peggy Van Sickle
Brighton
