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Voters will no longer have the option to check a box and vote a straight-party ticket under a bill Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law on Jan. 5, 2015.

(Kevin Manuel | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed a bill eliminating straight-ticket voting in Michigan.

"Michigan is one of only 10 states that allows residents to vote for just a party affiliation rather than individual people. It's time to choose people over politics," Snyder said. "To alleviate concerns that this change could lead to longer wait times for voters, I'm asking the Legislature to enact secured no-reason absentee voting."

In fact, the bill was legislatively linked to an in-person version of no-reason absentee voting in the House. That tie-bar was pushed by Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto, who chairs the House Elections Committee and sponsored HB 4724, the bill to establish in-person, no-reason absentee voting. But the Senate had concerns with the no-reason absentee voting bill, and broke that tie-bar.

In a letter Snyder wrote to further explain his position, he noted that SB 13 was "simply one piece of how Michigan can modernize its election process" and specifically asked the Senate to pass HB 4724.

Lyons in a statement also urged Senate action on the bill.

"I applaud the Governor in his call for swift action on secure no-reason absentee voting legislation. Secure no-reason absentee voting is pro-voter and common sense policy. I urge the Senate to join the Governor, Secretary of State, and the House of Representatives in standing up for Michigan voters by passing House Bill 4724," Lyons said.

Amber McCann, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said that there will be caucus discussion about HB 4724 but Meekhof's position "has not changed."

Under the bill signed Tuesday, people can still vote for candidates all in one party, but will no longer have the option to check a box and automatically vote for all of their party's candidates.

Democrats opposed the bill, saying asking voters to individually fill in each bubble would cause longer voting lines. Clerks expressed similar concerns.

Democrats also pointed to a $5 million appropriation that's included in the bill, which means it isn't subject to voter referendum. In 2002, Michiganders voted down a proposal that would have, among other things, eliminated straight-ticket voting.

Congressman John Conyers, D-Detroit, said it made voting harder.

"I've fought for justice at the ballot box for many years, so it's discouraging to see Gov. Snyder and others in the Majority in Lansing continuing to chip away at an individual's right to cast their ballot for a straight ticket," Conyers said.

"Of course, the underlying impact of this unnecessary new law will be to make lines far longer for our citizens wishing to vote this November. Turnout is already too low all over this state - Lansing politicians should join me in supporting measures to make it easier to vote, not make it harder."

AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber issued a statement against the bill's signing.

"This law will make it harder for people to vote in Michigan, and that's just plain wrong," said Bieber. "Local clerks from all over the state testified that this bill will mean even longer lines at the polls this November - hurting our seniors, and voters who live in urban communities. It's pretty clear that Governor Snyder and Lansing Republicans didn't listen and don't care. Instead of creating new barriers to the ballot box, they should be working to expand access to voting through no-reason absentee voting and expanded early voting. The people of Michigan deserve better."

Emily Lawler is a Capitol reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.