Press Release March 11, 2025

In a March 11, 2025, press release, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) hosted a Citizens Roundtable to hear directly from Michiganders about the devastating impact of House Joint Resolution B (HJR-B) and the SAVE Act (HR 22). Among the voices speaking out was VAAC Executive Director Angela Davenport, who compared the legislation to historical efforts to silence Black voices and block marginalized communities from voting.

“When we consider the impact of HJR-B, it’s impossible not to draw parallels between the events of March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, where peaceful voting rights marchers were met with brutal violence,” said Angela Davenport, Executive Director of the Voting Access for All Coalition. “Bloody Sunday marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, exposing the world to the attempts to silence Black voices through intimidation, violence, and systemic barriers to the ballot box. HJR-B represents a modern-day assault on the right to vote, particularly for marginalized communities, including formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals who already face significant barriers to participation.”

A Direct Threat to Michigan Voters

The proposed House Joint Resolution B (HJR-B), along with the SAVE Act (HR 22) at the federal level, threatens millions of Michigan voters by requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register. These restrictions would disproportionately harm:

• Students, military families, and low-income voters who may not have immediate access to birth certificates or passports.
• Formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals who already face barriers to civic participation.
• Local election clerks burdened with additional administrative costs and logistical hurdles.

“This resolution, like the proposed SAVE Act, is a fake solution to a fake problem,” said Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth). “The reality is this is a poll tax. Michiganders shouldn’t have to pay $35 to $165 out of their grocery and gas budgets to have a say in who represents them.”

Election Experts Sound the Alarm

Michigan election officials warn that HJR-B would create two separate voter databases, increasing costs without improving security. Canton Township Clerk Michael Siegrist estimates that such changes would cost his township up to half a million dollars, diverting funds from community needs like schools, infrastructure, and public safety.

We Must Act Now to Protect Voting Rights

Michigan is a national leader in secure, accessible elections, with record-breaking turnout in the last three election cycles. HJR-B and the SAVE Act would roll back these advances, silencing voters and undermining democracy.

📢 We must act now to stop these attacks on voting rights.