VNP In the News

Special elections for two vacant seats in the Michigan house of representatives flipped control back to Democrats, who organizers say could use their restored trifecta in the state to pass legislation protecting voting rights and election administration. A push to codify voter protections stalled after two Democratic lawmakers resigned and the party lost its majority in […]

Despite federal laws regulating how polls must accommodate voters, a recent audit of 261 polling places in Metro Detroit found that voter-assist terminals were often not plugged in, missing headphones, showing error codes, or placed in ways that did not guarantee privacy. The greatest barrier to voting at these locations: a lack of accessible entrances. This included […]

A federal court this week approved a new plan for Michigan’s state House districts around metro-Detroit. That’s after judges declared seven districts in the old map unconstitutional because they were drawn predominantly based on race, in violation of the 14th Amendment. The decision means maps drawn by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be used in […]

The Michigan House Elections Committee on Tuesday discussed two bills, House Bill 5551 and House Bill 5550, that would change procedures for recalls and eligibility to serve on elections panels.  State Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) provided testimony for House Bill 5551. The bill “prohibits individuals convicted of certain election-related crimes from serving on the Board of State […]

Detroit-area House Democrats who would see significant changes in districts redrawn this week by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission said in interviews that the new lines were surprising and somewhat disappointing, but they were ready to roll in terms of outreach in communities they don’t currently represent. Members of the commission on Wednesday voted to […]

Michigan moved its presidential primaries to the fourth week of February. Going earlier in the nominating cycle should, in theory, give state residents more viable choices and a greater focus from candidates. But that hasn’t been the case in 2024. The Republican race is essentially down to Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, while President Joe Biden’s biggest primary challenge […]

While the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission continues to take public comment on 10 potential remedy maps for seven Detroit state House districts, questions abound about what might happen if the commission fails to deliver and a court-appointed special master draws the map. There are also outstanding questions on when that special master map might become […]

Written By Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry Voters Not Politicians Education Fund (Voters Ed Fund), in partnership with the North Flint Neighborhood Action Council and Concerned Pastors for Social Action, recently hosted the “Flint Voter Access Town Hall.” There, the many residents who attended were able to discuss how to navigate new changes to Michigan’s […]

FLINT –  At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, Voters Not Politicians Education Fund (Voters Ed Fund), in partnership with the North Flint Neighborhood Action Council and Concerned Pastors for Social Action, will host the “Flint Voter Access Town Hall” with local elected leaders to discuss how to navigate new changes to Michigan’s voting laws, […]

Grand Rapids’ LINK UP hosted a town hall Wednesday evening devoted to educating the public about new Michigan voting laws. The Grand Rapids Voter Access Town Hall is bringing together community leaders along with Kent County and Grand Rapids government officials focused on helping community members navigate new voting laws. In particular, new voting rights […]

Michigan on Thursday became the first U.S. state to automatically register people to vote when they are released from prison, part of a slew of new election laws that also affect artificial intelligence, harassment and young voters. House Bill 4983, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, requires the Secretary of State’s office and Department of Corrections […]

Michigan Democrats are building on an effort to overhaul election laws in the state by allowing 16-year-olds to register before they can legally vote at 18 and adding more protections for election officials ahead of a 2024 presidential election that the swing state could play a critical role in. The election bills package, signed Thursday […]

When Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown looks back on the nine days of early voting she administered in the lead-up to Michigan’s Nov. 7 local elections, she considers it not only a logistical success, but a good time for those working the polls. The southeast Michigan county was one of ten throughout the state where some voters […]

Over the last five years, Michigan has become a centre of U.S. electoral reform. The state has abolished gerrymandering, enacted a slew of measures making it easier to vote, cracked down on voter suppression attempts, and imposed new financial disclosure requirements on politicians. The moves to improve the democratic system were all enacted by using […]

Voting in Michigan is about to undergo unprecedented changes, and among those changes will be the option of at least nine days of in-person early voting. What that looks like to voters will depend on where in the state they live.  The House and Senate both passed legislation Wednesday that lays out how it will […]

Voting in Michigan is about to undergo unprecedented changes, and among those changes will be the option of at least nine days of in-person early voting. What that looks like to voters will depend on where in the state they live. The House and Senate passed legislation Wednesday that allows municipal and county governments to […]

Michigan’s Democratic-led House Elections Committee voted 6-2 along party lines Tuesday to advance legislation that would commit the state to awarding its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. House Bills 4156 and 4440, both sponsored by Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), would add Michigan’s 15 Electoral College votes to the National Popular Vote […]

The child of Nigerian immigrants, Aghogho Edevbie grew up enjoying a level of democracy that his parents could only dream of. That appreciation of his rights as a U.S. citizen, especially the right to vote, has infused the work of the longtime Detroit voting rights activist and lawyer, who was earlier this year named Michigan’s […]

Advocates for a more transparent government in Michigan have been waiting years for movement on legislation to expand public records access and improve state ethics laws. They are still waiting. Democratic officials who took power in Lansing in January have long voiced support for transparency reform measures like expanding the scope of the Freedom of […]

Lansing (April 26th, 2023) – Earlier this month, Voters Not Politicians announced that they are traveling across the state for a “Campaign Finance Reform Town Hall Tour.” In the email announcement, the group stated that they aim to hear from voters about “the danger that money in politics poses to our democracy” and bring Michiganders into […]

LANSING — A national push to guarantee U.S. presidents are elected by popular vote is gaining momentum in Michigan, where the Democratic Party and a powerful coalition of voter rights groups are backing previously-stalled legislation.  Those groups — including the ACLU of Michigan, Voters Not Politicians and the state’s League of Women Voters — have helped overhaul […]

By NANCY WANG – DAVID DALEY It’s been decades since we could say this. But in Michigan this November, voters, not politicians, were the real winners on Election Day. That sounds pretty basic. Elections are supposed to be about determining the will of the people, and the side with the most support should win. Our elections for Congress […]

The 2022 midterm elections featured a number of competitive congressional and legislative races across the state, from Traverse City to Midland and from Grand Rapids to Downriver. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who won reelection by 11 points, will enter her second term with a 56-54 Democratic majority in the House and a 20-18 Democratic upper hand in […]

Democrats may have lost the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, but that doesn’t mean Americans across the country won’t see a wave of progressive legislative victories take effect over the next few years. But thanks to a wave of victories for progressive activists in states around the country, millions of Americans will still […]

Abortion on the ballot and the popularity of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is taking much of the credit for Michigan’s Democratic trifecta at the midterms — but Dems also have the end of unfair political boundaries to thank. What happened: Redistricting reform leveled the playing field, Nancy Wang, director of Voters Not Politicians, tells Axios. When people turned out […]

“This is absolutely historic, an epic landslide for pro-democracy Michiganders.” That was the assessment of Jeff Timmer, a former Michigan GOP executive director now with the anti-Trump Lincoln Party, after seeing the midterm election results Wednesday morning.  Democrats in Michigan have made history for the first time in four decades by taking back control of both […]

Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved Proposals 1 and 2 on the ballot Nov. 8 – signaling their desire for more government transparency and voting access. A quick rundown of the proposals: Proposal 1 requires annual financial disclosures from the governor, attorney general, secretary of state and legislators and restricts term limits in the Legislature to 12 […]

Michigan has been a hotbed for election fraud conspiracy theories since 2020, but this year extremist election deniers have filled roles on election canvassing boards that are responsible for tallying votes and certifying the state’s elections.  The bipartisan boards in several different Michigan counties now have GOP canvassers who still question Joe Biden’s victory and […]

Seventy-two hours before election day, Anne Ballew and her husband Tom Porter spent their Saturday afternoon darting up and down stoops to knock on doors in Dearborn, just outside Detroit. But Ballew and Porter weren’t there to talk about Michigan’s races for governor, US House, attorney general or secretary of state. They were there to […]

While it may not be getting the attention that Proposal 3, or Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA), is receiving, supporters of Proposal 2, or Promote the Vote (PTV), believe the very nature of being able to cast a ballot is at stake on Nov. 8. “It will make voting more secure and accessible for all eligible Michiganders,” said […]

In 2016, Michigan’s congressional districts were among the most gerrymandered in the country, heavily favoring Republicans despite Democrats winning equal or more votes in local races. Frustrated, a group of Michigan voters with no political experience connected via Facebook to create a grassroots anti-gerrymandering campaign called Voters Not Politicians, collecting over 400,000 signatures in support of a ballot […]

Despite seeing progress in advancing voting rights in the last several years, the organization that spearheaded the 2018 initiative that created the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission says an upcoming case before the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) threatens to undo that effort — and much more. Voters Not Politicians (VNP) held a panel discussion Wednesday night to […]

The two Republicans on the Board of State Canvassers who voted against certifying the Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA) and Promote the Vote (PTV) ballot proposals insisted Friday morning there was “nothing partisan” about their decision. Moments later, they followed a Michigan Supreme Court order to certify the proposals. With the final certification, which received […]

Voters in Michigan will decide whether to amend the state constitution to include protections for abortion access this November following a contentious battle over including two petition-driven proposals on the ballot. The Michigan Supreme Court voted Thursday evening 5-2 to order the inclusion of the measure on the ballot. It was certified by the state’s […]

LANSING—Let MI Kids Learn, an initiative drive that would set up a tax-incentivized school voucher program, submitted signatures on Wednesday to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers in hopes that the Republican-controlled legislature can unilaterally pass the package by the end of the year. The DeVos-funded proposal joins Secure MI Vote in pushing for a swift […]

The campaign that created a state independent redistricting commission is focusing now on the November races for public office. Voters Not Politicians’ political action committee plans to oppose candidates who are election deniers. Jamie Lyons-Eddy with Voters Not Politicians said the Voters Action Committee will choose candidates based on answers to a questionnaire, candidates’ public […]

LANSING — A Michigan voting rights advocacy group is forming a super PAC to defeat “election deniers” in the November general election, according to a Thursday press release. The announcement comes two days after the Tuesday primary, which recorded the victory of several statewide and congressional candidates who have repeated the disproved claim the 2020 […]

Tudor Dixon’s name will officially be on the ballot for Michigan governor after winning the primary race on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. The conservative media personality led the Republican gubernatorial primary election with the majority of the votes after facing off against four male candidates: Kevin Rinke, Garrett Soldano, Ryan Kelley, and Ralph Rebandt, per NPR. In […]

Advocates of an initiative to tighten Michigan voting laws and require voter identification on Friday submitted petition signatures, a move those in opposition say was intended to “veto proof” their efforts after the submission was previously delayed. The petition failed to meet the May 31 deadline to turn in signatures for the November general election […]

The deadline for signatures on ballot petitions is fast approaching, and there are a few pretty high profile efforts confident they’ll be on the ballot come November. One of those is Promote the Vote 2022. Their partner organization Voters Not Politicians tell me they’ve exceeded their signature collection goals. “We surpassed our internal goal, which […]

The deadline is approaching to sign petitions for a potential ballot initiative that could enshrine voter rights in the Michigan Constitution. Voters Not Politicians, a non-partisan advocacy organization, has spent the last few months collecting signatures for “Promote the Vote 2022.” If this proposal gets on the November ballot, it could lead to a constitutional […]

Mason — Voters Not Politicians, the upstart organization that overhauled Michigan’s redistricting process in 2018, is now using its network of volunteers to boost a campaign to recognize new voting rights in the state constitution. Supporters of Voters Not Politicians have gathered more than 160,000 petition signatures for Promote the Vote 2022, which aims to put […]

Michigan was the epicenter of some of the most egregious lies that the 2020 election was stolen. The effort to overturn the results in favor of former President Donald generated some bizarre headlines. The state was the scene of Rudy Giuliani’s infamous COVID-19 flatulence, where one of his witness’ incoherent ramblings earned a Saturday Night Live roasting. It is also the state […]

Organizers of a Republican-backed Michigan petition to enact voter restrictions to combat would-be voter fraud missed the state’s filing deadline on Wednesday after discovering tens of thousands of fraudulent signatures. Michigan Republicans are backing the citizen initiative petition known as Secure MI Vote​​​​, which would impose strict voter ID requirements, restrict absentee voting and ban private donations […]

A ballot drive to tighten Michigan voting laws and require voter IDs will not end up on the November ballot, petition leaders announced Wednesday. Instead, circulators will aim for action by the state legislature after finding thousands of fraudulent signatures among its stacks of petitions. Secure MI Vote says it gathered over 435,000 signatures – more […]

The deadline to file motions in GOP gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson’s lawsuit against state election officials was Tuesday. He’s suing to remain on the primary ballot after the Board of State Canvassers failed to agree on the handling of thousands of signatures on Johnson’s nominating petitions. The Bureau of Elections found those signatures were likely […]

MARQUETTE — The Michigan grassroots organization Voters Not Politicians held a signature-gathering event Saturday at the Marquette Farmers Market. Voters Not Politicians sought to collect signatures for its Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative. The initiative seeks to significantly expand voting accessibility throughout the state. Some of the proposed changes in the initiative are: ≤ […]

Voting rights advocates are ramping up efforts on a ballot initiative that seeks to expand voting access in Michigan. On Saturday, Voter Not Politicians (VNP), the nonprofit group that successfully amended the Michigan Constitution in 2018 to create a nonpartisan citizen-led redistricting process, hosted a series of large-scale trainings and petition circulation drives in Detroit, […]

HOUGHTON — Promote the Vote, a petition drive that aims to amend Michigan’s constitution in order to protect voting rights, is gaining support among Copper Country community members. Promote the Vote contains a number of legislative proposals that include expanding absentee voting access, creating an extended early voting period, upholding the affidavit option, and allowing […]

Michigan residents recently concluded a historic experiment in representative democracy. For the first time, the drawing of voting districts that will shape our representation in Washington, D.C., and Lansing for an entire decade was not led by self-interested politicians.  Thanks to the hard work of Voters Not Politicians and their allies to pass a redistricting […]

The nonprofit group that successfully pushed to amend the Michigan Constitution and create a nonpartisan citizen-led redistricting process, took a moment Thursday to both reflect on the success of that effort, but also to say it was, “moving forward to protect rights of Michigan voters.” Voters Not Politicians (VNP), which helped establish the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting […]

Nineteen non-profits in Michigan are backing a voters’ rights proposal for this fall’s general election. If the proposal gets on the ballot and is passed, it would give active military members access to absentee ballots 45 days prior to election day, allowing them to return them up to 6 days after election day if they […]

Right-wing groups have launched an unusual political campaign in Michigan, uniting major Republican donors — including Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s former education secretary — with far-right militants in an effort to exploit the state’s petition rules and bypass the normal legislative process. If successful, this could lead to the veto-proof enactment of a series of bills […]

With so many voting-related petitions circulating these days, why should a voter sign and support any specific one of them? It’s a good question with a simple answer. “Promote the Vote 2022” is designed to protect and enhance our democracy. It is the most inclusive and extensive of all the petitions. The “Promote the Vote […]

In celebration of Women’s History Month and in recognition of International Women’s Day, here are thoughts and reflections from some Greater Lansing women who are promoting hope and breaking barriers for women every day. Women trailblazers are often not recognized This month, we must recognize the enduring achievements of women who fought to make our world a […]

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers met and approved the petition summary and conditionally approved the petition form for Promote the Vote 2022’s pro-voter ballot initiative, clearing the way for the campaign to begin collecting signatures. The initiative is intended to improve access and security for Michigan elections. The ballot initiative would provide a week […]

On Friday, an MLive reporter was approached by a paid circulator outside of the Dollar Tree on Westnedge Avenue in Portage, who told the reporter they were collecting signatures to help special needs kids. The circulator, who identified themselves as a paid employee from Florida, declined to give any other details when asked about the petition, Let […]

The group behind the constitutional amendment that created Michigan’s citizen-led, independent redistricting process took steps Monday to defend the commission’s work in court against a lawsuit brought by Republicans challenging the new congressional map. Voters Not Politicians filed a motion to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit against the commissioners who drew the map. […]

A new ballot initiative filed with the Michigan Secretary of State Monday could nullify Republican-led efforts to restrict voting and enshrine a series of voting rights — including barring partisan interference in future elections — in the state’s constitution, election experts said Monday. The “Promote the Vote 2022” ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to improve both security […]

A voting rights group announced Monday it has plans to collect signatures for a ballot initiative aimed at protecting access to the polls in Michigan. The Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative would improve both security and access to the polls in Michigan, supporters said. The group will need approval from the Michigan Board of […]

Voters Not Politicians on Thursday shared a video of a petitioner misleading voters while collecting signatures for controversial petitions to tighten state laws on absentee voting and limit state departments’ emergency powers.  A Kalamazoo volunteer for the so-called “pro-democracy” nonprofit shared a video of a paid petitioner asking voters for signatures supporting petitions including Secure MI Vote, Unlock Michigan and Let […]

[Opinion Eric Schneidewind] During my time as volunteer president of AARP in Michigan and nationally, I saw firsthand how passionate older Americans are about voting and preventing identity theft. That’s why I’m so concerned about the Michigan Republican Party’s petition drive that would make it harder for all Michiganders to vote, and expose to increased […]

During a Voters Not Politicans press call Monday morning, Ruth Greenwood, director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, said it’s very possible for the commission to come up with maps that are politically fair while meeting other requirements. “There are probably millions and millions of maps that would satisfy all of the […]

During a media briefing Monday, Voters Not Politicians Executive Director Nancy Wang said the panel must finalize maps that don’t contain broad efficiency gaps in order to ensure lines that aren’t gerrymandered, or drawn in a way that favors one party over another.  “There’s not a choice that needs to be made between respecting (communities […]

Voting rights groups, advocacy organizations and Democrats are launching aggressive campaigns to fight a new Republican petition drive that aims to tighten Michigan voting and election laws. The Michigan Democratic Party is preparing a “decline to sign” campaign and has a “team of lawyers” that is picking apart the petition language to prepare for potential […]