Politicians and special interests are trying to rewrite parts of our state constitution that Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved in 2018 and 2022.
The Problem
Anti-voter lawmakers and national special interests groups are trying to restrict the ability of eligible American citizens to register to vote by introducing burdensome and unfeasible new identification requirements.
HJR B (Michigan), SAVE Act (Federal), and two different proposed ballot initiatives would require voters to present documentary proof of citizenship in order to register, update their registration, or even every time they vote, blocking eligible Michigan citizens from voting.
Millions of Michiganders voted to make secure voter registration and elections more accessible for eligible Michigan citizens in 2018 and 2022. We can not allow partisan politics and intentional election fearmongering to take over our state’s elections and disenfranchise Michigan voters.
UPDATE: A national special interest group called “Americans for Citizen Voting” has filed another proposal in Michigan to require proof of citizenship upon registering to vote. This group has forced similar proposals through other state legislatures to get their voter suppression policy on the ballot, and they plan to start collecting signatures on June 1, 2025.
What Can You Do?
Take action now to stop this blatant attempt at voter suppression!
- Join the Stop Voter Suppression Town Hall on June 16 to learn the full details about the ballot initiatives and how we can stop them and protect Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote.
- Sign up for the next Stop Voter Suppression Presenters Training to learn how to become a community educator and inform your communities from the harms of these ballot initiatives.
- Join our Dial for Democracy citizen lobbying program. Your lawmakers need to know that endangering voting access for eligible Michigan voters is unacceptable, and that blocking both the SAVE Act and HJR B is an urgent priority. Sign up today to get specific email instructions on how to contact your US Congressional representatives and state lawmakers, and a script to follow when you call.
- Submit a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper. Let your legislator and your community know that the SAVE Act and HJR B are a threat to Michigan voters and our elections.
- Become a VNP volunteer using the volunteer sign-up form below to get connected to a volunteer team in your local area.
Why It Matters
Michigan’s elections are already secure, accessible, and transparent. That’s why we need to protect them now.
HJR B didn’t have enough support in the legislature to reach the required two-thirds majority in both chambers that would place it on the ballot for voter approval. This voter suppression bill was never expected to garner enough support in the legislature. Instead national special interest groups and self-interested politicians are trying to subvert Michigan’s democratic processes to force this through the initiative process because they’re desperate to control who can and can’t vote.
The truth is that this is voter suppression disguised as a citizen initiative and not a solution to a problem; these proposals are creating a new problem by making it harder for eligible Michigan voters to vote.
The SAVE Act only needs to secure a simple majority in the US House and 60 votes in the Senate to advance to President Trump’s desk and be signed into law. If it succeeds, millions of eligible Americans, including tens of thousands of Michiganders, will be blocked from accessing their right to vote.
Every Michigander who supports democracy and wants to protect our elections must work together to show these politicians and special interests that Michigan voters don’t need or want any interference in our elections.
Additional Resources
- The SAVE Act: Overview and Facts (Center for American Progress)
- Analysis: House Bill Would Hurt American Voters (Brennan Center for Justice)
- Voter ID is NOT Documentary Proof of Citizenship. Here’s Why That Matters. (Voting Rights Lab)
- Voter ID in Michigan FAQs (Promote the Vote)
- Democrats condemn proof of citizenship voting resolution advancing in Michigan House as ‘poll tax’ (Michigan Advance)
- Michigan voter citizenship amendment cleared to collect signatures for 2026 ballot (MLive)
- Sharing the Facts about Federal Overreach of States’ Authority to Administer Elections (States United Democracy Center)
- Similar Laws in Other States
- NH’s new ID requirements send some would-be voters home (New Hampshire Public Radio)
- Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn’t work out so well (AP News)
- Who are the Arizona voters without proof of citizenship? They may surprise you. (Votebeat Arizona)