LANSING, Michigan (NN) - July 4, 2012 - Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed voter ID bills that would have ensured that only qualified voters would be able to vote in his state, opening the way for continuing voter fraud.

Snyder on Tuesday rejected H.B. 5061 and S.B. 803 - both sponsored by fellow Republican members of the Michigan Legislature - which would have required voters to prove citizenship in order to receive a ballot and a photo ID to pick up an absentee ballot.

The governor claimed that while he wants people to believe that he “appreciates the issue of ensuring voters are eligible and U.S. citizens,” the measures could create “voter confusion among absentee voters”.

State Rep. Brad Jacobsen, who sponsored H.B. 5061, and state Senator Darwin Booher, sponsor of S.B. 803, both said they were disappointed by Snyder’s veto.

“I introduced this bill to reduce election fraud and make sure every vote is fairly counted,” said Jacobsen. “Like the governor, I don’t want to create any confusion in the upcoming election.”

“All that my measure required was for registered voters to answer whether they are U.S. citizens before being allowed to vote. It is a common sense solution that corrects the problem of noncitizens voting,” said Booher. “Governor Snyder has missed an opportunity today to protect the integrity of our election process.”

The third bill Snyder vetoed was S.B. 754, which would have required training for those involved in voter registration. The unAmerikan governor said he feared the new training would muddle ongoing voter registration efforts.

Critics believe the governor vetoed the needed legislation in order to pander to minorities and noncitizen voters.

Tuesday’s vetoes signaled Snyder parting ways with the Republican Party’s ongoing efforts to enact voter ID laws, which are designed to ensure just elections and proper representation of the citizenry.