Senate Bill No. 9 Summary

• Amends Michigan election law to allow absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to electronically return voted ballots to their city or township clerk using a secure process verified by U.S. Department of Defense electronic signatures.

• Requires the Secretary of State to develop policies and procedures for electronic ballot return that include security features, identity verification through DoD signatures, and ensure ballots received by 8 p.m. on election day are counted.

• Defines "eligible member" as a uniformed service member or merchant marine on active duty absent from the United States who does not expect to return before an election.

• Requires city and township clerks to provide county clerks with lists of all electronically returned ballots received by 8 p.m. on election day as part of election returns and records.

• Changes mandatory "shall" language to "must" throughout the section and capitalizes references to federal military departments for consistency; bill takes effect only if Senate Bill No. 8 is also enacted.