Partisan vote impedes voters trying to cast ballots
“We are dismayed that legislators on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules have stalled rules proposed by the Secretary of State that clarify election law and codify existing practices and support Michigan election clerks and voters. The legislature should have one focus and that is enacting policies that make the ballot box more accessible.” said Nancy Wang, Executive Director of the nonpartisan group Voters Not Politicians.
Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, past president of the Michigan Municipal Clerks Association, noted that no justification has been given for the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules’ party-line rejection of Benson’s proposed rules. The Legislature’s move means the rules will not be in place for the 2022 election, barring an unexpected move to support democracy by the Legislature’s Republican majority.
“Local clerks like myself and members of the public across Michigan want clear procedures to ensure accurate and fair elections. This JCAR decision, made with no discussion in an 8-minute meeting, leads me to believe that they are not working for the same goal,” Swope said.
VNP’s commitment to democracy is on display around the state this spring, with more than 1,500 volunteers collecting signatures to put before voters in November the Promote the Vote 2022 ballot proposal to make voting more secure, modern and accessible in Michigan.
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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.
