Novi Times

Michigan residents will have a chance to vote yes or no on Sen. Jim Runestad’s (R-White Lake) privacy resolution in the upcoming November election, according to the MiSenateGOP website on June 25.

Runestad’s bill, Senate Joint Resolution C, will be on the ballot in the general election this November. The Michigan House of Representatives has already approved the legislation, which aims to shield locals from frivolous searches and seizures. If the bill goes all the way, it will also deem electronic data and communications (such as emails) as property and therefore be protected from any search or seizure, unless a proper warrant has been served.

Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that police and authorities have to have a warrant before investigating any emails or cell phones while carrying out an arrest.

Sen. Jim Runestad | #MiSenateGOP

“I am incredibly proud to have this important privacy amendment placed in front of the voters,” said Runestad, according to MiSenateGOP. “This is an important and historic step toward protecting the privacy rights of Michiganders for generations to come. We now have the opportunity to make Michigan a national leader in personal privacy protection.”

Runestad added that with the development of new technology, legislation such as Senate Joint Resolution C is inevitable. 

“That is why we need to establish a broad constitutional protection,” he said, according to MiSenateGOP. “The intent of SJR G is to provide clarity in the law that, regardless of method of collection, device used or method of storing information, a search warrant is required to obtain access to our electronic papers and communications.”

This isn’t the first time this bill has been a topic of conversation. Runestad first brought it to the House in 2016 and 2017. On both occasions, he received 107 votes backing the bill. He’s confident that Michigan voters will be in favor as well.