LANSING - Some Michigan lawmakers are counting on legislation that will reform voting in the state by making it easier, more assessable and accurate.

State Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-Onondaga, has drafted and proposed a measure this week that would bring voting reform to Michigan’s polls.

The national prominence of the issue is the reason the legislators have placed it on their agendas.

“No one can go through the experience we did as a nation and not call into question a serious and thorough review of our voting process,” Byrum said.

Byrum said her proposal is designed to increase opportunities to vote, improve accuracy and make the state more accountable for uniformed training of election workers.

The measure would call for absentee ballots to be available to all voters, regardless of reason. Eighteen percent of Michigan voters used absentee ballots in the November’s election.

Internet and early voting were also called for in the proposed legislation.

Byrum, who has been named to the Secretary of State’s task force to address voting issues, said maintaining the Qualified Voter File, a list of registered voters in the state, also should be better maintained.

That maintenance could have proven a difference for Byrum in November’s election, when East Lansing voters were turned away from polls because their names were not listed as registered voters.

When they had properly registered - the people could only vote if they talked to the city clerk and returned to their polling site.

Experts say Byrum, who lost the 8th Congressional district by a difference of 160 votes to U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, after a recount, needed the support of the predominately Democratic city.

A more uniform voting system, focused on a county-wide system, could improve accuracy, Byrum said.

“If you can start to get uniformity among the counties, I believe that will increase not only the accuracy but also expedite the reporting of the votes,” she said.

According to the Secretary of State, the difference between the number of ballots cast and the total number of ballot votes counted in Michigan in the presidential race was 46,798.

A system to ensure accuracy could reduce the number of voters who did not have a vote counted due to an error, Byrum said.

Electronic voting also could improve voting accuracy with technology that allows voters to know they have voted improperly.

Byrum’s proposal calls for a state grant to match the funds provided by local precincts to improve and standardize voting systems.

She also said Michigan lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure election workers are well trained in election process of their precinct and in election law.

“The Secretary of State is charged with establishing a statewide training for clerks but that is yet to be implemented in Michigan,” Byrum said.

Voting reforms is an issue important to lawmakers on both of sides of the aisle, said Aaron Keesler, spokesman for Senate Majority leader Dan DeGrow, R-Port Huron.

“Election and campaign finance reform are one of those things we need to address. One of the top two or three priorities,” Keesler said.

Secretary of State Candice Miller also has made voting reform a top issue on her agenda.

“The secretary is very pleased that there is support on both sides of the aisle to move forward on election reforms,” Miller spokeswomen Elizabeth Boyd said.

Political Science Professor David Rohde said he expects reforms in many states because of the political melee that took place in Florida during November’s presidential election.

Internet voting has been proposed as a way to make voting easier, however that system comes with some concerns, Rohde said.

“Its question of security, that is the main thing people are concerned about,” he said. “Secondarily, there is a question of fraud.”

The cost of implementing electronic voting my be high, Rohde said.

Despite the risks, voting reform is an issue Byrum feels is at the center of ensuring democracy.

“Our democracy gets its power from the people, and people have to have full faith in the integrity of the voting process,” she said.