How does the 'federal-only voter' designation change which elections a person can vote in?
Short answer
Under House Bill 4765, individuals designated as "federal-only voters" are restricted from participating in state and local races. They remain eligible to vote only in federal elections, such as those for the President of the United States and members of Congress. This designation applies specifically to registration applicants whose citizenship status the state cannot verify through existing databases.
What the bill or law says
The proposed legislation amends the Michigan Election Law to define a "federal-only voter" as an applicant whose U.S. citizenship has not been verified. The text states that these individuals are not considered registered electors under state law. Consequently, they are not entitled to vote in any election other than those for federal offices [<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/HB4765/id/3418240">Engrossed Bill Text</a>].
The bill requires the Secretary of State to verify citizenship using databases from the Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If this verification fails, the applicant receives the federal-only designation [<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/HB4765/id/3418240">Engrossed Bill Text</a>]. Applicants may provide documents like a U.S. passport or birth certificate to prove their status and potentially gain full voting rights [<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/HB4765/id/3418240">Engrossed Bill Text</a>].
How it works in practice
If enacted, this measure would prevent federal-only voters from casting ballots in races for governor, state legislature, or city council. Local clerks and the Secretary of State’s office would be responsible for maintaining the qualified voter file with these new designations. They must ensure that federal-only voters receive the correct ballot styles and are not allowed to vote in state or local contests [<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/HB4765/id/3418240">Engrossed Bill Text</a>].
The bill also affects how agencies handle automatic voter registration. The Department of Health and Human Services and tribal governments would be required to transmit registration information only for individuals verified as U.S. citizens. Similarly, the Department of Corrections must use citizenship verification procedures when registering individuals released from incarceration [<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/HB4765/id/3418240">Engrossed Bill Text</a>].
What the source does not answer
The provided texts do not specify the exact technical process local clerks will use to separate federal-only ballots from standard ballots at polling places. The sources also do not detail the potential costs to local governments for implementing these new verification and ballot distribution systems. Additionally, the documents do not predict how many voters might fall into the federal-only category or how long the verification delay might last for individual applicants.