President Ron Bieber

Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber didn't wait very long to blast the Republican-controlled state legislature for voting Wednesday night to eliminate straight-party voting in Michigan, a move that is seen as hurting Democrats at the polls.

"This bill is an absolute disgrace. It's another partisan power grab that will mean long lines at the polls next November, making it harder for our seniors and people who live in urban communities to vote, " Bieber said in a statement issued via email shortly after Wednesday night's vote."That's just shameful."

The House earlier passed the legislation, but the Senate, with some changes, sent it back for the House's consideration. The House approved the bill late last night, according to Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press.

The legislation now goes before Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.

Democrats in the state are known to vote straight party far more than Republicans. The legislation could result in Democratic candidates getting fewer votes.

Under the bill, voters would no longer be able to just check one box to vote straight Democrat or Republican. Voters would have to vote individually for each candidate.

Gray of the Detroit Free Press writes: 

The vast majority of clerks around the state and Democrats in the Legislature opposed the bill because they feel it will create confusion at the polls and dramatically lengthen lines at polling precincts, especially in urban areas where hours-long waits are already not unusual.

Chad Livengood and Gary Heinlein of The Detroit News reports:

In the 2014 gubernatorial election, 80 percent of Democrat Mark Schauer’s 323,762 votes in Wayne County came from straight-party Democratic voters. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder got 38 percent of his 129,111 votes in Wayne County from straight-party GOP voters.

Bieber hopes Snyder rejects the bill.

"Governor Snyder should do the right thing and veto this anti-democratic legislation. Instead of making it harder to vote, lawmakers should go back to the drawing board and focus on making it easier for people to vote, by passing laws that allow no-reason absentee voting, early voting, and same-day registration.

"Our American democracy should work for 'We the People,' not just the wealthy. If Lansing Republicans keep creating new obstacles to voting, then Michigan’s working people need to send them a message next November by voting them out of office."