Setting the record straight on claims made in support of Republican election bills Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press 'Get to TCF' - How Detroit was the game-changer of the presidential election Replay Video UP NEXT Michigan’s Senate Elections Committee has held three hearings so far on GOP-backed election bills that would place new requirements on voters. Republicans have sold their 39-bill legislative push as an effort to beef up election security and restore faith in the election process. Voting rights advocates and election officials say some of the proposals would disenfranchise voters by making it harder to vote. The bills include measures that would impose stricter voter ID requirements, shorten the deadline for returning ballots via drop boxes, prohibit clerks from providing prepaid postage for returning ballots and ban the secretary of state from sending absentee ballot applications to voters. Less contentious proposals would extend the time to canvass elections, require training for election challengers and establish a day of early in-person voting.