Fighting Back Against Voter Suppression

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Voting Rights Are Under Attack

Across the country and here in Michigan, coordinated efforts are threatening our freedom to vote. These proposals claim to protect our elections. In reality, our elections are already extremely secure by virtue of constitutional amendments passed overwhelmingly by Michigan voters in 2018 and 2022. But now, petitions are circulating that would put initiatives on the 2026 ballot designed to tie voters up in red tape and block access to the ballot, especially for voters who already face barriers.

They do not solve real problems. Instead, they create new ones. They target people already facing barriers, including justice-impacted voters, unhoused citizens, Black and brown voters, rural residents, low-income communities, and those who have changed their names due to marriage, transition, or religious reasons.

They require voters to present specific documents, like a certified birth certificate or a valid passport, just to register or update their voter information. These documents are often expensive, difficult to obtain, and out of reach for many people. That is the point. These efforts are not about securing our elections. They are about controlling who can participate in them, and they amount to a modern-day poll tax, forcing people to pay for access to their rights.

What’s at Stake in Michigan

Michigan voters have already made our position clear. In 2018 and again in 2022, we passed constitutional amendments to expand and protect the right to vote. We secured early voting, same-day registration, absentee ballot tracking, and more. These systems are working. Our elections are safe and secure.

Now, two proposed ballot initiatives are trying to change the Michigan Constitution again. They would roll back the protections we already passed and replace them with restrictions. If these measures are approved by voters, they would permanently change our Constitution and undo protections Michigan voters have already fought for. The changes would not be easy to reverse.

What Are the Current Threats?

Committee to Protect Voter Rights Petition (Michigan)

Status: Approved for circulation in Michigan.

This petition would:

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register, even for already-registered voters.
Eliminate online registration and prevent registration drives at churches, community centers, and reentry programs.
Repeal voting protections that Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed in 2022.

This initiative misleads voters with a name that implies protection, but it would take away rights that are already secure.

One VAAC member, whom we’ll call John Walker (name changed for privacy), discovered that the name on his birth certificate read as Johnny, and did not match the name on his driver’s license or passport, which read John Jr. The discrepancy stems from a change imposed on his father when he joined the military, altering the family naming conventions. John only became aware of the mismatch when handling legal matters after his father’s passing. He now faces uncertainty about which version of his name would be accepted if proof of citizenship were required, and whether he has the means or documentation to resolve the issue. His experience is not unique, and illustrates the types of recordkeeping challenges that could easily become voting barriers under these initiatives.

Americans for Citizen Voting Petition (AfCV)

Status: The Board of State Canvassers did not approve the summary language on May 16, 2025; the group may revise and resubmit.

This petition includes many of the same harmful provisions as the one described above. In addition, it would:

Add language that allows for the cancellation of voter registrations for people who do not meet new verification standards or who have not voted in recent elections. This could strip registrations from people who are eligible to vote now but have not had the opportunity to do so, including many returning community members reengaging in the process.
Impose criminal penalties on election officials who register someone without fully verifying citizenship according to these unclear new rules.

This initiative creates serious risks for voters and for election workers, who could face criminal charges for mistakes made under confusing and unclear rules. Although the Board rejected the summary, the group has stated they plan to revise and resubmit.

Petition Comparison

Provision	Committee to Protect Voter Rights	Americans for Citizen Voting (AfCV)
Requires documentary proof of citizenship to register	Yes	Yes
Applies to already-registered voters	Yes	Yes
Eliminates online and mail-in registration	Yes	Yes
Bans community registration drives	Yes	Yes
Repeals parts of Prop 2 from 2022	Yes	Possibly (wording may conflict with early voting protections)
Introduces criminal penalties for election officials	No	Yes
Misleading campaign branding	Yes (name implies protection)	Yes (language is vague and punitive)
VAAC’s position	Opposed	Opposed

The SAVE Act (Federal Legislation)

Status: Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives; pending in the Senate.

This bill would:

Require documentary proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate or passport, to register or re-register.
Eliminate online and mail-in registration options.
Shut down community-based voter registration drives.
Force voters to re-register when they move or change their name.

These requirements would tie many voters up in red tape, creating barriers that many voters cannot meet. They would hit hardest in communities already dealing with housing instability, low income, lack of transportation, or name changes due to marriage or religious reasons. Formerly incarcerated individuals often face difficulties accessing the documents required.

Michigan House Joint Resolution B (HJR B)

Status: Failed vote in the Michigan House, but reconsidered and postponed, and may return to the legislative agenda.

HJR B is a bill introduced in the Michigan Legislature that would require voters to show documentary proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate or passport, before registering to vote. While it failed in an initial vote, it was formally reconsidered and postponed, meaning it could return to the floor for another vote.

This legislation targets a non-existent problem. Michigan law already requires voters to affirm their citizenship when registering. Adding this requirement would create real obstacles for thousands of eligible voters.

It would hit hardest in communities that already face systemic barriers to voting. That includes formerly incarcerated individuals, people whose legal names have changed due to marriage or divorce, people who have transitioned or changed names for religious reasons, and voters without stable housing, transportation, or access to original documents. Seniors, students, tribal citizens, rural residents, and military voters would also be at risk.

Like other anti-voter proposals, this measure does not protect our elections. It creates confusion, imposes unnecessary hurdles, and amounts to a modern-day poll tax, charging people for access to their own rights.

What We Are Doing

We are working hard to fight back against these dangerous measures that threaten the rights of millions of Michigan voters.

Informational presentations;
Flyers and educate voters at rallies, festivals, and other large events;
Tracking where petition circulators are operating so we can ensure voters know what they’re being asked to sign.

Get involved! We would love to have your help. We are training and deploying volunteers across Michigan. Contact us to volunteer.

Voting Access For All