Print this article Republican House lawmakers in Michigan moved to prevent the secretary of state's office from issuing absentee ballot applications. The voting proposal is included within the GOP's budget bill, which was passed through a subcommittee on Tuesday, with all Democratic members opposing, and would need to be approved by the full appropriations committee, the Republican-led House and Senate, and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has the power to strip portions of the legislation, to become law. "The budget is always an important place to focus on government efficiency. Local clerks have always had responsibility for sending out absentee ballot applications. The secretary of state's office created confusion among the public and press by sending out a mass mailing last year," state Rep. Greg VanWoerkom, the lead sponsor of the legislation, told the