Livingston Today

State Representative Ann Bollin, a Republican from Brighton Township, has expressed her concerns regarding Governor Whitmer's decision to schedule two rushed special elections for vacant House seats. In a statement, Rep. Bollin questioned the governor's motives and criticized the impact this decision will have on taxpayers and voters.

Rep. Bollin stated, "Gov. Whitmer’s decision to call for separate special elections on Jan. 30 and April 16 to fill vacant House seats is highly questionable and fails to prioritize the interests of taxpayers and voters." She further highlighted that the accelerated time frame will unnecessarily burden candidates, clerks, and voters, adding, "What is really behind this time frame? Democracy? Accessibility? Restoring voter confidence? Voter representation at the Capitol? NOPE – just more politics and confusion that disenfranchises voters and places added stress on local clerks and poll workers."

One of Rep. Bollin's main concerns is the additional costs and confusion that these separate elections will cause. By choosing dates outside of the already scheduled February and May elections, Gov. Whitmer is burdening taxpayers with increased expenses. Rep. Bollin emphasized, "The governor needlessly burdens taxpayers with increased costs for separate elections and causes unnecessary confusion for voters."

Rep. Bollin also raised questions about the inconsistency in scheduling special elections based on party lines. She pointed out that when three Republican House seats were vacant in late 2021, the governor scheduled those special elections for March and May of 2022. Rep. Bollin questioned the sudden rush to fill the latest vacancies and stated, "The governor’s choice to depart from established election dates shows a complete disregard for the financial and logistical strain it places on local communities like Warren, Westland, and Detroit."

In conclusion, Rep. Bollin expressed her disappointment with Gov. Whitmer's decision, stating that it fails to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process that maximizes voter participation while minimizing costs and confusion. She emphasized that the people of Michigan deserve better.

The governor's office has not yet responded to Rep. Bollin's statement.

To find out more, go to this link: https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-bollin-issues-statement-after-gov-whitmer-rushes-special-elections-for-vacant-house-seats