Grand Rapids Reporter

U.S. congressional candidate Tom Norton has joined the calls for increased Michigan voter ID requirements, citing a recent polling showing overwhelming support from state residents on the issue.

In a statement to the Grand Rapids Reporter, Norton referred to the results of a recent Remington Research Group poll, commissioned by Americans for Citizen Voting. Among results, the poll found that more than 75% of participants supported a requirement to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Support among black residents in the state was even higher, at 79%. 

"Voter ID laws are extremely important to the United States of America. The 14th and 24th Amendments of the Constitution allow for congress to protect our elections," Norton told the Grand Rapids Reporter. 

Norton is a Republican candidate for Michigan's newly drawn 2nd Congressional District. 

“Americans deserve to have their election protected, it's extremely important to the stability of our republic,” Norton said.

In late 2021, the Michigan State Legislature passed measures would have increased identification requirements for both in person and absentee voting. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ultimately vetoed the legislation, the Detroit News reports. 

"To be clear, there is no evidence that use of affidavit ballots is related to voter fraud," Whitmer's letter said in announcing her veto. "In fact, the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee recently concluded that the 2020 election produced no significant evidence of fraud.”

The Michigan Secretary of State website says voters are not required to present a photo ID to register to vote or while at the polls. A utility bill or bank statement in the voter's name will suffice in place of the photo ID. 

Among advocates for the heightened requirements, Secure MI Vote is a political campaign aimed at changing Michigan's voting laws to make them more "secure." 

They are promoting new legislation that would require photo IDs at the polls, an ID or Social Security number for an absentee ballot. It would also create standard guidelines for absentee ballot collection and drop-off boxes, prohibit the unsolicited distribution of absentee ballot applications and ban private donations to fund election infrastructure.