Almost 24 hours after members of the Michigan House Elections Committee voted to refer four bills known as the Michigan Voting Rights Act to the House floor, civil rights advocates met in Lansing, stressing an urgent need for action on the bills.
The Michigan Voting Rights Act — Senate Bills 401–404 was introduced in June of 2023, with state Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) previously telling Michigan Advance the bills began as a discussion with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on how to protect voting rights at the state level.
While Michigan citizens previously approved ballot measures greatly expanding access to the ballot and enshrining a right to vote in the state constitution, supporters say the bill would fill key gaps in the federal law, including measures for individuals with disabilities or who do not speak English as their first language.
Alongside the press conference, Melinda Billingsley, the communication manager for Voters Not Politicians, said 150 volunteers from her organization and other grassroots voting rights groups were working to meet with their lawmakers at the Capitol to make two things clear.
“Number one, that voters want to see this pro-democracy legislature finish the work they started this session. And number two, that voters are paying attention right now, and we are going to make sure this legislature fulfills its obligations to the people of Michigan,” Billingsley said.
This story was originally published by Michigan Advance. Read more here: https://michiganadvance.com/2024/12/04/civil-rights-advocates-urge-action-on-state-voting-rights-act-amid-concerns-of-future-threats/
