The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 17, 2021 — Page 5Michigan Senate passes voter ID legislation
Three-bill package moves to state House for consideration
Sergio Martinez-Beltran
Bridge Magazine
The Michigan Senate on Wednesday passed
three bills to overhaul voter ID requirements
and add new restrictions to those casting
absentee ballots.
The three bills, SB285, SB303 and SB304,
eliminate the option for voters to sign an affi-
davit if they lack identification, requiring
them instead to cast a provisional ballot and
prove their identity within six days.
The bills also would require voters request-
ing an absentee ballot to provide on the appli-
cation their driver license or state ID number,
last four digits of their Social Security num-
ber, or submit an original or copy of their ID.
Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, said the bills
would help “deter and avoid election fraud.”
“Requiring certification verification is a
simple but critical step to ensure the integrity
of our election process moving forward,”
Theis said. “It’s not creating a personal secu-
rity risk. It’s not voter suppression, it’s not an
undue burden.”
There was one reported case of voter fraud
in Michigan related to the 2020 election. In
that case, a man forged his daughter’s signa-
ture on an absentee ballot.
The ID proposals are part of a 39-bill pack-
age introduced by Republicans in the
Michigan Legislature, similar to ones intro-
duced in other GOP-led statehouses following
former President Donald Trump’s unproven
claims of widespread voter fraud.
Republicans cited a recent Detroit Regional
Chamber poll that indicated 79.9 percent of
Michigan voters favor a voter ID law. Most
European nations and Canada also require IDs
to vote, but opponents say the new measures
are intended to suppress votes of minorities.
Last November, a majority of the 11,
votes cast without an ID were in Detroit,
according to records analyzed by Bridge
Michigan. In all, 0.2 percent of total votes
were done so without an ID last year.
Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, slammed
the measures as “egregious” and “garbage.”
“This bill package is not about voter integ-
rity, it’s not about preventing fraud, it is not
about ensuring the security of our election,
and this is not about preventing foreign inter-
ference,” Santana said on the Senate floor.
“This is about being scared of losing an
election because of what Brother Malcolm
(X) said, ‘We are not outnumbered, we are
out-organized.’ ”
The proposals are opposed by progressive
groups and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson,
a Democrat. Michigan estimates aren’t avail-
able, but some studies claim as many as 13
percent of African-American residents nation-
wide lack a government-issued ID.
Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak,
slammed the Republican majority for passing
the measures without having additional legis-
lation that would make it easier for
Michiganders to get some sort of ID.
That day, though, Sen. Tom Barrett,
R-Charlotte, introduced a bill that would
waive the fees associated with getting a state
identification card.
The Michigan County Clerks Association
opposes some of the bills, including the pro-
posal that eliminates the in-person affidavit
option.
“The data is there to back up the fact that
this is a secure process, and that we do not
have a voter impersonation problem,” said
Justin Roebuck, a Republican who is the
Ottawa County clerk and co-chair of the clerk
group’s legislative committee.
“I really do believe that the Legislature, if
they fundamentally think this change needs to
be implemented, should produce the data that
says we have a voter impersonation problem,
because I’m not finding it and I’ve been here
for over 10 years as an election administra-
tor.”
The clerk group, though, supports the con-
cept of requiring voters to submit some form
of identification for an absentee ballot.
“Sometimes we have to walk that line
between making sure the process is simple
and easy for voters, and making sure that it’s
secure,” Roebuck said. “I do think there’s an
importance to place on the security element.”
The measures now go to the House, which
is controlled by Republicans.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, will
likely veto them, as her office has said “any
piece of legislation that seeks to take away a
person’s right to vote or creates barriers to
voting is a non-starter.”Republicans are planning to bypass
Whitmer, however, with a petition drive.
Should organizers collect 340,047 signa-
tures to put the reforms before voters, the
Republican-led Legislature could enact them
into law.
That’s because Michigan is one of two
states with a constitutional provision that pro-
hibits the governor from vetoing resident-ini-
tiated legislation that is adopted by the
Legislature instead.from our readers
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Publisher & CEOHank Schuuring
CFOScott Ommen
Mike GilmoreTy Greenfield
Jennie YonkerSophie Bates
Greg ChandlerSean Bradley
Taylor OwensBrentley Elwin Donaldson , 54, of
Hastings, was convicted of carrying a weap-
on, a shotgun, Feb. 3 in Rutland Township
with unlawful intent. Donaldson was sen-
tenced by Judge Michael Schipper to 73 days
in jail, with credit for 73 days served. He was
ordered to pay $398 in fines and costs.
Donaldson was ordered to have no contact
with the victims or their residence; to partici-
pate in and successfully complete the Office
of Community Corrections’ Cog Group pro-
gram for cognitive behavioral-based group
treatment, undergo mental health evaluation
and treatment and comply with all the terms
listed in his presentencing report. A second
charge of committing a felony with a firearm
was dismissed at the time of his sentencing.Jason Howard Jordan , 45, of Nashville,
was convicted of operating a vehicle Dec. 1,
2020, on Durkee Street and/or M-79 and/or
Water Street in Nashville while he was intox-
icated as a third-time offender. Jordan was
sentenced by Judge Schipper to 180 days in
jail, with credit for three days served, ordered
to pay $398 in fines and costs and placed on
probation for 36 months. He will be entered in
the Swift and Sure program as well as Secure
Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor pro-
gram upon his release from jail.Nickolaus Lee Janose , 35, of Hastings,
was convicted of second-degree criminal sex-
ual conduct, engaging in sexual contact with
a child under the age of 13 in Hastings in
August 2018 and was sentenced by Judge
Schipper to 90 days in jail, with credit for one
day served. He also was ordered to pay
$1,058 in fines and costs and was placed on
probation for 60 months. Janose was ordered
to pay a probation fee of $30 per month and
to have no contact with the victim. Additional
charges, including first-degree criminal sexu-
al conduct and second-degree criminal sexual
conduct, all involving a child under the age of
13, were dismissed at the time of sentencing.Anthony Joseph McCarty , 30, of
Nashville, was convicted of being a felon in
possession of ammunition Feb. 23 in Hastings
and was sentenced by Judge Schipper to 66
days in jail, with credit for 66 days served.
McCarty was ordered to pay $398 in fines and
costs and placed on probation for 36 months.
A charge of operating a vehicle on a suspend-
ed license was dismissed at the time of sen-
tencing.
In a second case, McCarty was convicted
of possessing a controlled substance, meth-
amphetamine, Feb. 10 in Nashville and
received a sentence of 66 days in jail, with
credit for 66 days served. His license was
suspended for 30 days and restricted for 150
days. He was ordered to pay $398 in fines and
costs and placed on probation for 36 months.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.Jay Lee Allerding , 39, of Hastings, was
convicted in two cases of possessing the con-
trolled substance methamphetamine/Ecstacy.
In one case, he was operating a vehicle while
visibly impaired on West State Road/Country
Club Drive Jan. 6. In concurrent sentences, he
was ordered to serve 60 days in jail, with
credit for two days served, for the first con-
viction, and two days in jail, with credit for
two days served, for the second. His license
was suspended for 30 days and restricted for
150 days, and he was ordered to pay $548 in
fines and costs. As a condition of his proba-
tion, he was ordered to successfully complete
Office of Community Corrections Cog Group
program.Brandon-James Krouse , 36, of Hastings,
was convicted of two counts of unauthorized
use of computers Nov. 16, 2020, in Hastings
and was sentenced by Judge Schipper to serve
concurrent terms of 180 days in jail, with
credit for 56 days. Krouse was ordered to pay
$566 in fines and costs and placed on proba-
tion for 24 months. Three charges of using
computers to commit a crime and a charge of
unauthorized use of a computer were dis-
missed at the time of sentencing.
In a second case in which he was convicted
of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, as a
habitual offense, Krouse received a concur-
rent sentence of 180 days in jail, with credit
for 56 days served. His driver’s license was
revoked, and he was ordered to pay $398 in
fines and costs. He was placed on probation
for 24 months, with a requirement that he be
placed on SCRAM for 12 months.William Ray Jiles , 60, of Hastings, was
convicted of operating a vehicle Nov. 7, 2020,
in Hastings while intoxicated, a third-time
offense. Jiles was sentenced by Judge
Schipper to 32 days in jail, with credit for two
days served, ordered to pay $398 in fines and
costs and placed on probation for 36 months.
He was to continue on SCRAM upon his
release from jail.Seberiano Lopez , 51, of Hastings, was
convicted of possession of the controlled sub-
stance methamphetamine/Ecstacy, Aug. 14,
2019, in Hastings and violating the terms of
his probation. He was sentenced by Judge
Schipper to serve 24 to 120 months in prison,
with credit for 365 days served, and ordered
to pay $1,198 in fines and costs. The judge
ordered this sentence to be served consecu-
tively to any parole sanctions Lopez faces. A
charge of delivery/manufacture of the con-
trolled substance diazepam as a second-time
offender was dismissed at the time of sentenc-
ing.Scott Joseph Miller , 31, of Battle Creek,
was convicted of attempting to surveil an
unclothed person in his or her undergarments
under circumstances in which that individual
had a reasonable expectation of privacy
between Feb. 26 to Feb. 29, 2020, in Hastings.
Miller was sentenced by Judge Schipper to 12
months of probation and ordered to pay
$1,925 in fines and costs. Charges of using a
computer, computer program, system or net-
work to commit, attempt to commit, conspire
to commit or solicit another to commit a
crime; capturing/distributing visual images of
an unclothed person; and using a computer to
commit a crime were dismissed at the time of
sentencing.Corey Joseph Risner , 40, of Dowling, was
convicted of possessing less than 25 grams of
a controlled substance – cocaine, heroin or
another narcotic – Aug. 27, 2020, in Johnstown
Township and operating a vehicle on South
Banfield Road while intoxicated. He was sen-
tenced by Judge Schipper to probation and
ordered to pay $548 in fines and costs.Edward Lincoln Youngs , 42, was convict-
ed of possessing the controlled substance
methamphetamine Nov. 16, 2020, in Hastings
as a second-time or subsequent offense. He
was sentenced by Judge Schipper to serve 32
days in jail, with credit for two days served,
ordered to pay $398, and placed on probation
for 36 months. He also was ordered to suc-
cessfully complete the Office of Community
Corrections Cog Program.Snapping sound
Dr. Universe:
Why does it make noise when you snap
your fingers?
Amelia, Michigan, 12Dear Amelia,
When I got your question, I snapped my
fingers a few times to try and find the exact
source of the sound. After a few tries, I
decided to ask my friend Troy Bennefield,
the director of Athletic Bands at Washington
State University.
While we may start a snap with the top
of our thumb and middle finger touching, he
said that the snapping sound actually hap-
pens when the middle finger hits the palm
area at the base of the thumb.
As the middle finger hits the base of the
palm, you actually send some vibrations out
into the air. Vibrations are a big part of the
reason we can hear all kinds of things —
from snaps to claps to a variety of musical
instruments.
When an object vibrates, it creates
waves of energy that travel to a listener’s
ears. The outer part of the ears collect those
waves, and the ear canals channel them
inside the ears. Meanwhile, the brain helps
interpret the incoming information and
allows you to put a name to the sound you
hear.
There are so many different sounds to
hear in our world. Part of the reason a snap
sounds different from a clap or a musical
instrument like a violin or drum is that the
objects are made up of different materials.
The materials vibrate in slightly different
ways, giving us all kinds of sounds to hear
and music to make.
Bennefield is really interested in how
we can use snapping in making music. Onefamous scene with a lot of snapping comes
from the musical “West Side Story.” Maybe
you know a song or two that incorporates a
lot of snapping, too. Think about how that
sound can bring a certain emotion or feeling
to the song.
Maybe you can even try some snapping
experiments of your own. Try a snap in your
right hand. Now try the left. Did you notice
any differences? Now, try playing with
some different rhythms. Snap at a nice, slow
steady pace or pick up the pace for a quick-
er rhythm.
If you are up for the challenge, see how
many snaps you can do in a minute. Record
your results. Just a couple of months ago,
Guinness World Records announced that the
new world record for most snaps in a minute
is 437 snaps.
Perhaps you also can experiment with
the volume of your snaps. The loudest snap
on record was recorded at 108 decibels. For
comparison, a motorcycle makes sounds
that are recorded at about 100 decibels.
Try a super loud snap or try to make the
quietest snap you possibly can. Observe
how the volume changes depending on how
much force you create between your finger
and your thumb.
Whether your snaps are quiet or loud,
slow and steady, or super-fast, remember
that the sound all comes back to those vibra-
tions in the air.Dr. UniverseDo you have a question? Ask Dr.
Universe. Send an email to Washington
State University’s resident scientist and
writer at [email protected] or visit her
website, askdruniverse.com.American Revolution references
misrepresent its meaning
To the editor:
Many of the followers of Donald Trump –
whether they be insurrectionists and rioters of
Jan. 6, protesters at the Michigan State or
United States capitols or members of today’s
Republican Party – like to think of them-
selves as the legitimate descendants of the
American Revolution.
Some sport symbols like the Gadsden
“don’t tread on me” rattlesnake flag or the “an
appeal to heaven” Pine Tree flag or wear tri-
corn hats and revolutionary war replica uni-
forms.
This results from a serious misunderstand-
ing of history and a gross misrepresentation of
the nature of the American Revolution. The
Revolutionary War was fought to obtain dem-
ocratic self-rule free of the dictates of a king.
It was not fought for George Washington to
rule the country indefinitely, but so that the
people of the United States could freely
choose their representatives in the halls of
government.
After the familiar opening paragraphs of
the Declaration of Independence beginning
with “When in the course of human events”
and referring to our “self-evident rights,” the
bulk of the Declaration is a list of grievances
against the arbitrary dictates of a single per-
son, King George III of England, concluding
with the statement that “A Prince whose char-
acter is thus marked by every act which may
define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free
people.”
The Revolutionary War was fought to free
the American people from the dictates of a
single individual – not to enshrine a single
individual as the sole source of power. Therewas no Republican Party platform in the pres-
idential election of 2020 except that they
“unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s
strong support for Donald Trump.” And
Donald Trump has continued to demand loy-
alty from the Republican leaders, members of
Congress and the various state governments
and candidates for office.
He has refused to acknowledge his loss in
the election, despite the certification of the
individual ballot count and the Electoral
College results by all 50 states and the
Congress, multiple certified audits and
recounts, the assertion of his own appointed
attorney general and Department of Homeland
Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency and the rulings in more than
60 court cases, including two at the United
States Supreme Court.
The success of a thriving democratic repub-
lic rests on the informed participation of all of
its people and the ability of our members of
government to represent us. It does not depend
on one “great leader” as in North Korea, one
supreme leader as in Iran, or one “presi-
dent-for-life” as in Russia or China.
George Washington set the standard for
presidents of the United States when he
refused to run again after his second term,
despite the certainty that he would have been
re-elected. He chose to step down, relying
instead on the strength of the Constitution, the
government upon which it was founded, and
the wisdom of the American people to choose
a new president to represent them.Dr. Kenneth M. Kornheiser,
Prairieville Township“The data is there to back up the fact that this is a secure pro-
cess, and that we do not have a voter impersonation problem.I really do believe that the Legislature, if they fundamentally
think this change needs to be implemented, should produce
the data that says we have a voter impersonation problem,
because I’m not finding it and I’ve been here for over 10 years
as an election administrator.”Republican Justin Roebuck
Ottawa County clerk and co-chair
of the clerk group’s legislative committee“Requiring certification
verification is a simple but
critical step to ensure the
integrity of our election
process moving forward.
It’s not creating a personal
security risk. It’s not voter
suppression, it’s not an
undue burden.”Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton
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