Influential Republicans Disagree with Snyder on Voter Fraud Veto

Conservative Michigan insiders disagree with Gov. Rick Snyder’s decision to veto a bill dealing with voter fraud: that’s the finding of this week’s inaugural Red Mitten survey of influential Republicans.

Fifty-one conservatives from southeastern Michigan used an automated anonymous survey tool to offer their opinions about voter fraud in the state.

Thirty responses were collected.

According to Politico.com, Snyder said he vetoed the bill because it could cause "confusion among absentee voters."

But some respondents in the Red Mitten survey feel differently.

In fact, more than half, 53.3 percent, say they disagree with Snyder’s decision to veto a GOP-backed bill that requires photo ID for first-time voter registration or to obtain an absentee ballot. Another 16.7 percent say they somewhat disagree with the governor’s veto.

But 20 percent say they agree with Snyder, a Republican, while another 10 percent say they somewhat agree.

“Voter fraud exists and needs to be eliminated as much as possible,” one respondent said. “The integrity of the ballot is THE most important liberty we have as Americans.”

Said another respondent: “Disenfranchisement occurs not only when people aren’t allowed to vote, it also (occurs) when those who aren’t allowed to vote do vote.”

More than half of respondents, 56.7 percent, say they agree or somewhat agree that voter fraud is a big problem in Michigan. Twenty-seven percent say they disagree or somewhat disagree, while 16.7 percent were neutral.

Seventy percent of respondents say they agree or somewhat agree that Michigan needs legislation to address voter fraud, while just 13.3 percent say they disagree or somewhat disagree.

Despite support for legislation against voter fraud, respondents had less enthusiasm about pushing it as a platform for Republicans on the local and state level during the upcoming campaign.

Less than half, 43.3 percent, say they agree or somewhat agree that pushing for voter fraud legislation would be a winning platform for Michigan Republicans at the local and state level. Forty percent say they disagree or somewhat disagree, while 16.7 percent were neutral.

One respondent said potential voter fraud is “not one of the most important issues facing the state at this time.”

Said another: “We have far more pressing economic issues!”

The Red Mitten Survey

Our surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to influential local Republican activists, party leaders and elected officials in Michigan. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between July 12 and July 22, 2012.

Patch will be conducting Red Mitten surveys for Republicans and Blue Mitten surveys for Democrats throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and liberals in Michigan. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in weekly surveys that last just a few minutes, please email Associate Regional Editor John Hetzler at john.hetzler@patch.com.

Red Michigan roster: Prudy Adam (Genesee County Republican Chair); Neal Barnett (Bloomfield Township Trustee); Brian Belesky; Cindy Berry (Candidate for Chesterfield Township Clerk); Mark Bliss (Candidate for State Rep); Tony Brown (Fenton Township Trustee); Dino Bucci (Macomb Township Trustee); Jim Carson (Dexter Village trustee); Jacob Collison; Helen Cost (Past President of Royal Oak Republican Women’s Club); Hugh Crawford (State Rep); Kathy Crawford (Oakland County Commissioner); Joseph Daly; Dan Devine (Bloomfield Township Treasurer); James Drolett (Candidate for Dexter Township Supervisor); Janet Dunn (Macomb Township Trustee); Ryan Eaton; Kathy Elliott; Justin Fischer (Novi City Council); Anthony Forlini (State Rep); Becky Freeman; Scott Freeman; Bob Gatt (Mayor of Novi); Matt Germane (Hartland Township Trustee); Joe Green; Pat Hardy (Bloomfield Hills City Commissioner); Karen Jacobsen (Candidate for U.S. Congress, 12th District); Corinne Khederian (Bloomfield Township Trustee); Richard Lerner (Farmington Hills City Council); C.J. Maier (Candidate for sheriff in Livingston County); Mike McCready (Bloomfield Hills City Commissioner, Candidate for State Rep); Sarah McLure (Bloomfield Hills Mayor); Rob Montilla (Chairman of the Republican Committee of Northern Macomb County); Drex Morton; Nancy Nevers (Macomb Township Trustee); Mark Ouimet (State Rep); Thomas Pustelak; Harley Rider (Dexter Township Clerk); Janet Roncelli (Bloomfield Township Clerk); Jim Runestad (Oakland County Commissioner); Aaron Sarver (U-M Dearborn College Republicans Co-Chairman); John A. Scott (Oakland County Commissioner); Bill Shaw (Candidate for Oakland County Commissioner); Pat Somerville (State Rep); David Staudt (Mayor Pro-Tem of Novi); Shelley Taub (Bloomfield Township Clerk); Brad Urdan (candidate for state Rep); Wanda Warsinski (President of Royal Oak Republican Women’s Club); Paul Welday; John Wolfsberger (Macomb Township Precinct Delegate); Wayne Wrobel (Novi City Council); Tom Yaschen (Chesterfield Township Trustee)