Local governments across Michigan are continuing to pass resolutions opposing documentary proof of citizenship requirements and other proposals that would add new barriers to voter registration and voting.
Now, coalition partners are asking community members to help bring these resolutions to more cities, townships, and counties.
A coalition of nearly 50 nonpartisan organizations is encouraging local leaders to speak out against proposals that would require voters to provide documents such as a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. These proposals are often described as documentary proof of citizenship requirements. Current Michigan and federal law already prohibit noncitizens from voting, and voters already affirm their citizenship when registering to vote.
Coalition partners are asking community members to help reach more city councils, township boards, and county commissions before the upcoming holiday. If you have relationships in your city, township, or county, or if you are willing to contact local officials, you can sign up to help move a local resolution forward.
What local resolutions can do
Local resolutions give city councils, township boards, and county commissions a way to publicly oppose proposals that would add red tape to voting.
These resolutions can also affirm Michigan voters’ constitutionally protected freedom to vote and highlight the risks of requiring documents that many eligible voters may not have easy access to.
In Michigan, voters choose our leaders, not the other way around. When local governments pass these resolutions, they are responding to community members who are showing up, speaking out, and asking them to protect access to the ballot.
Communities that have passed resolutions
As of May 28, the following local governments had passed resolutions:
- Wayne County Board of Commissioners
- Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
- Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
- Ingham County Board of Commissioners
- Detroit City Council
- Pontiac City Council
- Lansing City Council
- Canton Township Board of Trustees
- Inkster City Council
- Ypsilanti City Council
- Delta Township Board
- Meridian Township Board
Coalition partners are currently working with additional local governments across Michigan.
How you can help
Community members can sign up to help pass a local resolution in their city, township, or county.
After you fill out the form, a coalition team member will follow up with materials and next steps.
You do not need to be a policy expert to get involved. Community members can help by contacting local officials, attending public meetings, sharing why voting access matters to them, and encouraging their city, township, or county to pass a resolution.
Oakland County action opportunity
The Legislative and Government Operations Committee of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 7 at 9:00 AM. Community members who are available to provide public comment, or who can help invite Oakland County residents to attend, are encouraged to get involved.
The full Oakland County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 16 at 11:00 AM. We expect to share more information as that date approaches.
Where outreach is needed now
Coalition partners are currently seeking help contacting local leaders in several communities, including:
- Southfield City Council: Send the coalition letter and resolution template to the full City Council and urge them to pass the resolution.
- Genesee County Board of Commissioners: Contact Board Chair Dale Weighill and ask him to bring the resolution forward: dweighill@geneseecountymi.gov
- Muskegon County Board of Commissioners: Contact Board Chair Charles Nash and ask him to bring the resolution forward: nashch@co.muskegon.mi.us
- Saginaw County Board of Commissioners: Contact Board Chair Jack Tany and ask him to bring the resolution forward: jtany@saginawcounty.com
- Westland City Council: Contact Council President Mike McDermott and ask him to bring the resolution forward: mmcdermott@cityofwestland.com
- Sterling Heights City Council: Contact Councilmember Mike Radtke and ask him to bring the resolution forward: mradtke@sterlingheights.gov
Additional communities where support is needed
Coalition partners are also working to build support in Grand Traverse County, Traverse City, Marquette County, Marquette City, Muskegon City, Muskegon Heights, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Romulus, River Rouge, Redford Township, Saginaw City, Bay City, Battle Creek, Berrien County, and Benton Harbor.
Speaking at a public meeting
Public comment can be brief. You can speak from personal experience or explain why you are concerned about adding more paperwork to voter registration.
You may want to talk about:
🔘 How voting access affects you, your family, or your community.
🔘 Why documents like passports or birth certificates may be hard for some eligible voters to access.
🔘 Why local leaders should oppose proposals that could make voter registration more confusing or difficult.
🔘 Why Michigan should protect the voting rights that voters approved in 2018 and 2022, including same-day registration, no-excuse absentee voting, and early voting.
Documentary proof of citizenship requirements can create barriers for eligible voters, including people who have moved frequently, changed their names, lost records, recently returned home from incarceration, live with low income, or experience housing instability. Demos has reported that proposed proof of citizenship and voter ID requirements could affect large numbers of Michigan voters who do not have easy access to the documents required under these proposals.
Questions
For questions or suggestions about the local resolution campaign, coalition partners are directing people to contact Ben Gardner, Michigan Senior Campaign Manager with All Voting Is Local, at ben@allvotingislocal.org.
VAAC will continue sharing updates as more communities consider and pass resolutions opposing documentary proof of citizenship requirements.
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