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 […]