Voters from across the state share how proposed reforms would make voting more difficult
Click here to download a recording of the event; Passcode U0!h*6Cy
LANSING, Mich.–Voters Not Politicians, the nonpartisan, grassroots group that ended gerrymandering in Michigan, today hosted an online press event to highlight how the voter suppression bills introduced Wednesday in the Michigan Senate would make it harder for voters around the state to exercise their right to vote.
“The 2020 election was one of the most successful in our state’s history, with voters across the state taking full advantage of expanded voting rights including no reason absentee voting, same day registration, and expanded clerks’ office hours that we passed through the Promote the Vote amendment in 2018,” said Nancy Wang, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians. “The intention of these new bills is clear – Republican leadership wants to force eligible voters to jump through unnecessary hoops to exercise their constitutional right to vote. We will not stand by and let national special interests try and dictate how we run elections here in Michigan.”
Senate Bills 273-311 were introduced Wednesday to impose changes to the election administration process and would, among other things:
- Requiring voters to carry a specific form of photo ID with them on Election Day and banning the ability for a voter to sign an affidavit if they forget their ID
- Requiring voters to request their absentee ballot with a specific photo ID or a copy of one
- Removing voters’ ability to drop their absentee ballot in a secure drop box after 5:00 p.m. the night before Election Day
- Forcing voters to pay to return their absentee ballot by mail by banning clerks from providing pre-paid postage on the return envelope
- Banning nonpartisan poll observers on Election Day by only allowing partisan operatives to observe the polls
“Getting from one place to another can be a challenge here in the Upper Peninsula,” said Elizabeth Benyi, Voters Not Politicians volunteer and Calumet resident. “My neighbors, family members, and friends benefitted from the expanded voting rights through the Promote the Vote initiative, which allowed them to vote by absentee ballot with no reason required. We should build on this progress to help rural communities like mine exercise our fundamental right to vote.”
Voters Not Politicians volunteers mobilized quickly to push back against this package, which would create unnecessary and costly administrative hurdles for election officials and would make it more difficult for voters to safely, securely, and conveniently cast their ballots. As of today, volunteers have made 1,371 calls to elected officials urging them to oppose these bills and instead work on reforms like the ones requested by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and clerks across the state to make our elections more accessible.
“People in my community often struggle with access to transportation to exercise their fundamental right to vote,” said Kermit Williams, Executive Director of Oakland Forward and Pontiac resident. “If you can get your driver’s license online, you should be able to easily request your absentee ballot online. These bills would make it even more difficult for people to vote safely at home. We need to make this process easier, not turn back the clock to suppress the vote.”
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey on March 15 appeared on the Bart Hawley Show on JTV, a local station out of Jackson, Mich., and alluded to the “comprehensive” election reform package that was unveiled in the Senate. This comes as anti-voter legislation is being pushed by conservative groups nationwide. According to Fox News, Heritage Action for America, a nonprofit tied to the conservative Heritage Foundation, is investing $10 million to double down on false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
“Clerk Borling worked hard to ensure that every voter in Kalamazoo could return their ballot if they did not have access to or money for stamps,” said Jessica Swartz, Voters Not Politicians volunteer and Kalamazoo resident. “This was very important for college students who were not registered to vote in Kalamazoo. Many people – especially students – don’t have stamps. Clerk Borling’s efforts to provide those made it so much easier for the students and others who don’t regularly use the mail system to have their voices heard. In fact, this was done at no cost to the taxpayers, but through a private-funded grant. Senate Bill 284 would prohibit that type of partnership, so this, too, is extremely disturbing.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in February released an Advance the Vote agenda to build on the expanded voting rights and access established through Proposal 2018-3, including lessons learned from one of the best-run elections in recent history, particularly amidst a global pandemic.
“Voter suppression through policy and intimidation are tactics that have been used for generations to keep Black people and People of Color from participating in fair and open elections,” said Willie Patterson, Director of Community Engagement for LINC UP and Grand Rapids resident. “It is a shame what people with power will do to disenfranchise citizens who have been guaranteed the right to vote. Those who will be most inconvenienced are working-class, blue-collar people who do not have the luxury of time or extra income. We need to make it easier for those folks to vote, not more difficult.”
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Voters Not Politicians is a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to strengthen democracy by engaging people across Michigan in effective citizen action. Learn more at www.votersnotpoliticians.com.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Battiste
ebattiste@martinwaymire.com, 248-404-7846
