Office of State Senator Liz Brater

September 17, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor)
September 17, 2004 517-373-2406

SEN. BRATER CALLS FOR IMPROVED VOTER ACCESS
Provides tips for participating in Election 2004

"We must encourage people to vote," Brater says.

ANN ARBOR - In separate announcements on the campuses of the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, Sen. Liz Brater will announce legislation amending the restrictive current laws that prevent students from voting in campus precincts unless both their driver's licenses and voter registration cards indicate the same permanent residence.  Under a law passed in 2000, citizens' addresses on driver's licenses and voter registration must agree, making voting more difficult for thousands of college students living away from home.  Brater will be joined by Jennifer Nathan, Vice President of the University of Michigan Student Assembly.  The event will take place in the Wolverine Room, Michigan Union on Monday, September 20 at 12:30 p.m.  A similar event will take place at Eastern Michigan University, McKenny Union, First Floor, Intermedia Gallery at 5:00pm.

"The current law disenfranchises thousands of college students living on college campuses and makes it harder for them to participate in elections," Brater said. "We should be doing everything we can to encourage young people to participate in the election process. To place roadblocks in their way is wrong."

Brater will announce that she has introduced legislation to allow Michigan citizens to vote by mail without stating a reason.  "The current absentee ballot application discourages people from voting by mail.  This is a problem for people who are working long work days or have young children at home or have trouble getting to the polls for any other reason not listed on the absentee ballot application.  We need to make it easier for people to vote."

Brater's announcement was echoed by colleagues across the state.  
Democratic Floor Leader Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) may join
Brater at the event.  Sen. Virgil Bernero (D-Lansing), who is sponsoring
part of the package, will be hosting a similar event at Michigan
State University in East Lansing.

"College students today are motivated and empowered to participate in November's election and we should be encouraging their enthusiasm by making the process easier, not difficult and prohibitive," Nathan said.  "The legislation proposed by Senators Brater and Bernero takes a vital step in restoring crucial voting rights to Michigan college students."

Sen. Brater also criticized a current Michigan law that requires first-time voters to register in person in their home districts in order to receive absentee ballots, a requirement that has heavy impact on students, since many are first-time voters.

In addition, Brater will provide a handout for students to
help them overcome administrative obstacles that currently complicate their access to voting.

Because of issues like the war in Iraq and efforts like Rock the Vote, we are seeing a tremendous increase in student interest and involvement during this election year," Brater said.  "We cannot allow students to be discouraged or shut out in any way from the process. Their votes must be encouraged and their voices equally heard."