Mission and Coalition Partner Organizations

The Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC) gives a voice to those impacted by the Criminal Legal System.

We are a coalition of individuals and organizations — representing those who have been incarcerated and those who have not — who feel voting is empowering and powerful. We know that any barrier to voting – whether it be logistical, informational, or lack of trust in the process – is voter suppression that we must confront.

Mission

Our mission is to ensure that all persons in pretrial situations, individuals about to be released from prison, and those formerly incarcerated, along with their families and community members, have the opportunity and knowledge they need to exercise their right to vote in every election.

Coalition Partner Organizations

We represent organizations, congregations, and public offices in Michigan.

A Brighter Way

A Brighter Way is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Washtenaw County that was created from the realization of the issues and struggles that many people face while reintegrating back into society after serving time in prison and jail. A Brighter Way provides assistance, support, and guidance to individuals as they transition back into the community.

Humanity for Prisoners

With compassion for Michigan’s imprisoned, Humanity for Prisoners provides, promotes and ensures—with strategic partnerships— personalized, problem-solving services for incarcerated persons in order to alleviate suffering beyond the just administration of their sentences.

MI-CURE

MI-CURE is a grassroots justice reform organization. We advocate for a criminal justice system that provides just consequences for criminal behavior and that promotes restoration of right relationships among victims, offenders, and society, while maximizing the effectiveness and availabiity of resources devoted to these ends.

Nation Outside

To drive policy and practice reforms that build transformative systems of support for justice-impacted people. A society where our communities are safe and vibrant, all people are treated with dignity and respect, and justice and fairness are available to everyone. A primary goal of Nation Outside is to understand and exercise our right to vote in Michigan.

S&D PJ Housing

To provide appropriate support services for women transitioning out of prison or tether program. We help them be more self-sufficient to move towards independent living.

UUCivs

(First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor) Aligned with our national and statewide Unitarian Universalist “Get out the Vote” campaigns, UUCivs’ mission is to connect UU vision, values, and social justice goals to our constitutional right to vote and to support under-represented communities in overcoming barriers to voting.

American Friends Service Committee Michigan Criminal Justice Program

AFSC – MCJP is here to ensure that every Michigan prisoner is treated fairly and their voices are heard. We are a resource and advocate for prisoners, their loved ones and everyone who believes that human rights of prisoners should be protected.

League of Women Voters of Michigan

League of Women Voters of Michigan, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Michigan Liberation

Dedicated to the leadership development and creation of effective campaigns to advance racial, gender, and economic justice in Michigan.

Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network

To foster the worth and dignity of people by promoting social justice.

State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center

State Appellate Defender Office and Criminal Defense Resource Center fights injustice through access, advocacy, compassion, and education.

Vote By Mail in Jail

A program initiated by Spread The Vote to assist incarcerated citizens, who are eligible to vote, with participating in their local and state elections via absentee ballot.

Friends of Restorative Justice

Friends of Restorative Justice is here to pursue a balanced and restorative approach to crime and conflict that promotes justice, reparation, and resolution for victims and the community, while also addressing accountability, personal development, and reintegration of the offender into productive community life, with respectful treatment for all involved parties.

MI-CEMI

MI-CEMI is a collaborative of over 50 organizations and 100 individuals working towards the same goals – dedicated to leveraging individual and organizational power to reduce our prison and jail populations in Michigan. MI-CEMI meets regularly to coordinate efforts, connect to national movements that are addressing systemic inequality and mass incarceration, mobilize people on the ground, and share their areas of expertise.

PROACTIVE Project

People Reaching Out And Coming Together Increasing Voter Empowerment P.R.O.A.C.T.I.V.E. We seek to protect the rights of all voters on Election Day, empower our community and preserve the purity of the election process.

Safe & Just Michigan

Safe & Just Michigan works to advance policies that end Michigan’s over-use of incarceration and promote community safety and healing. We envision a Michigan in which all are safe in their communities and everyone is responsible for creating accountability, safety and justice.

Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office

Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office

Serving a population in excess of 350,000 residents spread across 25 local units of government, the Sheriff’s Office focuses on building strong local communities through quality public safety and social justice services for all of Washtenaw County.

Would you like your organization to be listed here? Join our Coalition!