Lansing area officials named to statewide election advisory committee

LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson named two Lansing-area elections officials to a statewide committee that will advise her office on how to implement Proposal 3, the election reform ballot proposal voters approved in November.

Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark, a Democrat, and Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope will join 25 other municipal officials, voting rights advocates and elections experts on the Election Modernization Advisory Committee, Benson announced Wednesday.

In November, 67 percent of Michigan voters supported Proposal 3, known as "Promote the Vote.". Their approval ushered in sweeping changes to Michigan's future elections, such as allowing Election Day voter registration, straight-ticket voting and absentee voting without cause.

More:Proposal 3 in Michigan: How it would change the way you vote

The changes will be tested for the first time during the May 7 election.

The election advisory committee will provide input on how the Benson and the Bureau of Elections should implement election reforms. Committee members also will discuss the launch of online voter registration passed by the Legislature last year, election challenges and poll worker recruitment and training.

Contact Carol Thompson at (517) 377-1018 or ckthompson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @thompsoncarolk.