Late in the evening on Thursday, members of the Michigan Senate voted along party lines to advance a bill creating fines for intentionally making a false statement about Michigan elections.
Senate Bill 707 specifies individuals who knowingly misrepresent the time, place or manner of an election; the qualifications or restrictions on voter eligibility; criminal penalties associated with voting in an election; an individuals’ voter registration status or eligibility would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation.
The bill clarifies that an individual has intentionally and knowingly made a false statement or representation if they know it is false and make the statement with the intent to hinder or prevent another individual from voting in an election.
Additionally an entity who employs an individual for election related purposes, and if that individual violated this law, the employer would be subject to a civil fine of up to $10,000 unless they demonstrate that they did not have any prior knowledge that the employee planned to make a false statement which violates the law.
If this entity is a local government, there is a rebuttable presumption that they did not have prior knowledge that an employee planned to violate the law.
Bill sponsor, state Sen. Mary Cavanaugh (D-Redford Twp.) testified previously that she worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and legal experts to guarantee that the bill covers intentionally made...
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