LANSING – In a move to increase transparency and accountability in elections and political campaigns, State Representatives Dian Slavens (D-Canton) and Deb Kennedy (D-Brownstown) today voted for legislation requiring automated telephone calls targeted at voters – or "robocalls" – to state the identity of the person paying for the call as well as his or her phone number or address at the beginning of the call. It further restricts the time when robocalls can be made to between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Currently, the Michigan Campaign Finance Act requires that campaign materials and TV and radio ads contain the name and address of the person paying for them and a disclaimer by the candidate. The law does not address telephone or electronic campaigning, allowing those communications to contain unsubstantiated claims without identifying a source. The House plan, which now heads to the Senate, calls for these telephone and electronic campaign communications to add a disclaimer stating who is behind the communication.
Violating the new provisions of the plan would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in prison and fines of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense and $2,500 for three or more offenses.
"People have a right to know who is making anonymous campaign calls to their home," Kennedy said. "We must stand up for our residents and make Michigan elections transparent. This plan will clean up campaigns in Michigan and help ensure that voters can make informed decisions when they cast their ballot."