Nik Rajkovic / news@whmi.com


State Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) announced new legislation on Monday that would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

The announcement comes just a little over a week after the Michigan House of Representatives voted on House Joint Resolution B, a constitutional amendment to include photo ID/proof of citizenship requirements for voting in the Michigan Constitution. The resolution failed to receive the two-thirds vote of the chamber required for constitutional amendments to be passed after House Democrats voted against the measure.

"In recent weeks, we have continually heard about more documented cases of election fraud from last year where non-citizens voted in our elections," Woolford said.

"Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has even conceded that their ballots were counted and impacted the results of our elections. This is unconscionable and proof that we need voter ID requirements. Michigan’s elections should be decided by the citizens of Michigan alone. My Democrat colleagues’ opposition to placing proof of citizenship requirements into our state constitution is incredibly disappointing and outrageous. Fortunately, my new legislation will not require their support to pass the House. We will deliver results to the people of Michigan who want to know their elections are secure one way or another."

According to Woolford’s office, the legislation would ensure the Secretary of State only registers individuals to vote who have provided documentation proving U.S. citizenship. Such documentation could include a driver’s license, personal identification card, birth certificate, or passport.

Separately, the Michigan House last week passed HB 4027 and 4028 to restore local governments’ authority to make zoning decisions for renewable energy sites.

"The state should never have taken zoning authority over renewable energy projects away from our local governments. Local governing officials are the ones most intimately familiar with the needs of their respective communities. They are the most capable of balancing both respect for property rights and concerns about the wasteful use of land and resources for solar and wind farms," said Woolford.

"Unfortunately, at the behest of the lobbying forces of the renewable energy industry, the Democrat-led government stripped away local zoning authority last term. One of the first things I did upon coming to Lansing was add my name to the list of sponsors for this legislation to restore local control. We have already seen in the short time during which zoning authority over renewable energy sites has been taken from local governments how the state has mishandled this authority. They have completely disregarded the concerns and circumstances of local communities whose township, city, and village officials would make much better decisions."

HB 4027 and 4028 are linked below.