The Headlines
Even though many of us are very disappointed by the results of last Tuesday’s election, Voters Not Politicians is still focused on the work ahead. With only three scheduled weeks of session remaining under Michigan’s pro-voter trifecta government, we are activating our volunteers and mobilizing both our citizen lobbying and direct lobbying programs to pass our priority pro-democracy legislation.
The Details
- Voters Not Politicians is mobilizing our grassroots lobbying program around these legislative priorities during the lame duck session of the Michigan legislature:
- Michigan Voting Rights Act (SB 401, SB 402, SB 403, SB 404): By enacting the Michigan Voting Rights Act, Michigan can become a national leader in safeguarding the right to vote, especially for communities that continue to face increased barriers to voting. Passing this legislation now is even more critical with the expected dismantling of voting rights protections at the federal level.
- National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (SB 126, SB 295): Adding Michigan to the National Popular Vote will bring this pro-democracy reform much closer to reality, working toward the ideal of one person, one vote for every voter in America during presidential elections.
- Lobbyist Reform (HB 5581, HB 5586): Establishing legislative staff and other state office-holders as lobbyable officials, making them subject to the same reporting and gift restrictions applicable to legislators, and closing the lawmaker-to-lobbyist revolving door are common sense policies that will help give voters confidence that their elected representatives are focused on policies that best serve the people, and not on auditioning for their next job as a lobbyist.
- Ending prison gerrymandering (SB 494): Prison gerrymandering misrepresents incarcerated people as residents of a prison cell rather than their home communities during the US Census count, resulting in skewed representation for every political district in the state. Ending this practice by accurately counting incarcerated people as residents of their home communities will result in more fair and balanced districts, where lawmakers are able to better serve their constituents’ interests.
- Taking Back Our Power (HB 5520, HB 5521, HB 5975, HB 5976): Backed by the Taking Back Our Power coalition, these bills would prohibit monopoly utilities and government contractors from spending money on political campaigns. The SEC and 15 other states impose regulations on these entities; this is a commonsense policy that will restore trust in state government and ensure that our legislators are serving the interests of the people.
- Already, we’ve achieved one legislative win during this lame duck session! On Wednesday, the House passed HB 4127 and 4128, sending both bills to the Governor’s desk.
- House Bills 4127 and 4128 ban open carry of guns at polling places and within 100 feet of an absentee counting board.
- Voters Not Politicians has been advocating for these reforms since the very beginning of this legislative session, so we’re happy to see them cross the finish line before the end of the year.
- We are refocusing our volunteer capacity between now and the end of the year on grassroots lobbying for our lame duck priorities. Volunteers will be making calls, sending emails, and meeting in person with their lawmakers to urge them to swiftly pass pro-democracy legislation.
What’s Next
In the aftermath of the 2016 election, Voters Not Politicians became the place where many people channeled their feelings of disappointment, disenfranchisement, and disillusionment with our political systems into an empowering movement that revolutionized Michigan’s democracy.
Eight years later, Voters Not Politicians is still here, and we’re even more prepared in this moment to do the work necessary to improve our democracy and deliver positive change for all Michiganders. We will continue to be a place for those who want to take action and achieve lasting results together, and right now we will use our collective voice to make the most of the last few weeks of our pro-democracy majority.
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