No Eligible Voter Should Be Left Behind
Thousands of people sitting in Michigan jails today are legally eligible to vote but are systematically denied access due to lack of information, infrastructure, and coordination.
Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) is working to change that.
Our Goal
Ensure that every eligible voter detained in county jails has meaningful, consistent access to register and vote and that jail voting becomes institutionalized across Michigan.
Who Can Vote While in Jail in Michigan?
In Michigan, individuals who are detained in jail but not currently serving a sentence are eligible to vote. This includes people awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing.
Despite this, many eligible voters never receive the information or support needed to exercise this right.
The Challenge
Voting access in jails is not automatic. Without intentional systems in place, it is inconsistent and often nonexistent.
People in jail face barriers including:
- Lack of access to voter registration forms
- Limited access to absentee ballots
- No clear processes inside facilities
- Little to no information about their voting rights
This results in thousands of eligible voters being excluded from the democratic process, disproportionately impacting Black communities, low-income individuals, and people directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
How We Do This
VAAC uses a community-driven, systems-level approach to expand jail voting across Michigan.
- Voter registration support
- Absentee ballot coordination
- Know Your Rights civic education
- Partnerships with clerks, sheriffs, and jail administrators
- Collaboration with the Michigan Secretary of State
- Development of jail-specific voting procedures
- Engaging community partners
- Building a statewide network of support
Through this work, VAAC is:
- Expanding access to voter registration and absentee voting inside jails
- Building relationships with county systems across Michigan
- Creating models that can be replicated statewide
- Advancing long-term systems change
Why This Matters
“I didn’t know I could vote until someone came in and told me.”
This is a reality for many people detained in jails.
VAAC is working to ensure that every eligible voter knows their rights and has the opportunity to participate in decisions that impact their lives, families, and communities.
Why VAAC
Voting Access For All Coalition is a statewide leader in expanding voting access for justice-impacted communities.
Our work connects civic education, direct voter support, and systems-level change to build lasting civic power across Michigan.
Get Involved
Help ensure no eligible voter is left behind.
- Volunteer with our jail voting efforts
- Partner with us to expand access in your county
- Support this work through funding or advocacy
Resources:
Contact us to have the above document updated with your unique requirements or to request copies.
Jail Voting Report
Voting Access For All and Nation Outside have produced an in-depth report on voting in Michigan jails titled “Ensuring the Right to Vote: How to Expand Voting Access in Michigan Jails.”
VAAC promotes the acceptance of all recommendations included in this report, in order to ensure people held in Michigan jails pre-trial have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
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