A mail-in primary ballot still awaits Democrats’ stamp of approval

While the prospect of a June 3 primary do-over for Michigan Democrats is looking more likely, just how voters will make their voices heard in the contest remains unclear — though it could be by mail-in ballot.

But a mail-in ballot raises many concerns about security, disenfranchisement of voters and the state’s ability to prepare for a form of voting new to Michigan voters in such a short period of time.

“I see this as risky,” said Michael Traugott, professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan.

Traugott has studied mail-in balloting, which is used in Oregon. In that state, the elections are closely coordinated by the state government and the U.S. Postal Service. But the state worked diligently to prepare the public to use the mail ballots before first deploying them.

“In Oregon, the state developed a series of public service announcements by the secretary of state and the head of the postal service in the state explaining the system,” Traugott said. “I don’t think there’s time for that [in Michigan].”

Speedily finding a solution agreeable to all camps — the state Legislature, the Michigan Democratic Party and the campaigns of both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — is critical to many Democrats. The tight Democratic nomination race could ultimately hinge on the primary vote in Michigan and Florida, and Michigan is facing key deadlines in its race to find a resolution.

Continued -For those seeking a way to ensure the state’s delegates are seated at the Democrats’ summer convention, the question of who will pay for a new Michigan primary is a major issue. Howard Dean, chair of the Democratic National Committee, has repeatedly insisted that Michigan and Florida’s current delegations will not be seated because the two states held their primaries early, against party rules.

Also, the states’ governors are unwilling to saddle taxpayers with the cost of new contests, and Michigan Democratic officials don’t want to shell out money that could be used for the fall general election.

Mail-in balloting’s chief appeal is that it’s supposedly cheaper than holding a traditional primary. But one unanswered question, Traugott said, is, “Who’s going to pay the postage [for mailing the ballots] — the voters, as in Oregon, or the party?” Forcing voters to pay could reduce participation.

Another issue is how to ensure all eligible voters receive ballots. Such issues caused state Rep. Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) and state Sen. Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit), co-chairs of Obama’s campaign in Michigan, to call the mail-in ballot proposal a “non-starter” on Wednesday.

“Whatever we do needs to be fair, secure and affordable,” Thomas said in a press release. “I just don’t see a mail-in vote passing those tests.”

Mail-in ballots also raise concerns about Republican interference in an open-primary state like Michigan, Traugott said.

“This would be an opportunity for Republicans to meddle in the Democratic primary in a way they wouldn’t if there were two primaries going on simultaneously and the Republicans had a slate of candidates on their side.”