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 […]