On Wednesday, February 7th, the Michigan Senate Elections & Ethics Committee took testimony on House Bill 4127 and HB 4128. These bills would restrict law-abiding citizens, with concealed carry permits, in and around polling places, which includes ballot drop boxes. HB 4127 & HB 4128 could be brought up for a committee vote as early as next week. Please contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE this bill by using the Take Action button below.
Currently, those with a concealed pistol license are allowed to carry while voting unless otherwise prohibited under the law. HB 4127 would make it illegal for an individual to possess a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place, which includes ballot drop boxes, early voting sites, a city or township clerk’s office, or within 100 feet of any entrance to these sites. HB 4128 would make it illegal to possess a firearm in an absent voter counting place or within 100 feet of where ballots are being processed.
Law-abiding gun owners should not face criminal penalties for simply crossing arbitrary lines with no intent to disrupt or interfere with the voting process. Furthermore, many of these locations, like ballot drop boxes, are not well known and can be placed in areas otherwise open to concealed carry of a handgun like a grocery store entrance. Passing within 100 feet of some of these areas unknowingly and unintentionally could be easy to do and prohibit you from accessing areas where it would otherwise be legal to carry.
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