Through a series of pop-up events across Metro Detroit, community members are invited to create small art pieces that reflect their experiences, perspectives, and beliefs about voting rights, democracy, and community voice. Each piece becomes part of a larger installation exploring voting access, participation, barriers, and the importance of protecting the right to vote.

No art experience is required. Participants can contribute through writing, drawing, collage, or mixed media. The project is designed to create space for reflection, conversation, and community connection while highlighting the many ways people experience and think about democracy.

VAAC is also excited to share that the Voting Rights Art Installation has been accepted into ArtPrize 2026 and will be exhibited at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids during ArtPrize, which runs from September 17 through October 3, 2026.

Upcoming Pop-Up Events

Tuesday, June 23 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Urbanrest
2615 Wolcott St, Ferndale, MI 48220

Community voting rights art-making, speakers discussing voting rights, and pizza provided. Register here!

Saturday, July 18 | 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Hatch Art
3456 Evaline St, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Community members are welcome to stop by, create a piece, and help shape a collaborative project that will bring together voices from across Michigan.

Additional events and opportunities to participate will be announced as the installation continues to grow.

The post Voting Rights Art Installation Pop-Ups and ArtPrize 2026 Exhibition appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Earlier this spring, VAAC shared news that Michigan lawmakers had reintroduced MIVRA and outlined what the legislation could mean for communities across the state. The Senate’s passage represents an important step forward for legislation that builds on Michigan voters’ longstanding support for accessible and inclusive elections.

The Senate’s action also makes Michigan the first legislative chamber in the country to pass a state voting rights act since the U.S. Supreme Court weakened key protections in the federal Voting Rights Act.

MIVRA has not yet become law. The bill package now moves to the Michigan House of Representatives, and additional legislative steps remain before any changes would take effect. VAAC will continue to share updates as the process moves forward.

What Would the Michigan Voting Rights Act Do?

According to the Senate package, MIVRA would:

• Prohibit voter denial, vote dilution, and voter suppression while providing remedies when violations occur.
• Create a nonpartisan voter institute and database to provide research, training, and accessible information about voting systems and election administration.
• Expand requirements for election-related information to be translated into languages other than English.
• Strengthen and clarify protections for voters with disabilities and voters who need assistance casting a ballot.

Why Is This Important?

Michigan voters have repeatedly made clear that eligible voters should be able to cast their ballots and participate in our democracy. In recent years, Michigan voters approved constitutional changes that expanded access to the ballot, including no-reason absentee voting in 2018 and early voting in 2022. 

The Michigan Voting Rights Act builds on that commitment by strengthening voting protections at the state level. The protections included in MIVRA address barriers that can prevent eligible voters from fully participating in our democracy and help ensure that voters can cast a ballot free from discrimination, including racial discrimination in voting.

The right to vote without discrimination, the ability to understand election information, access to assistance when needed, and fair representation should not be partisan issues. These are civil rights issues that affect whether eligible voters can fully participate in public life.

For many of the communities VAAC serves, including people impacted by incarceration, poverty, housing instability, and systemic exclusion, these protections are not abstract policy discussions. They can affect whether eligible voters receive accurate information, understand their options, navigate the voting process, and fully exercise their rights.

What Changes Right Now?

At this time, Michigan voters should continue to follow current Michigan voting laws and procedures.

The Senate’s vote does not immediately change how Michiganders register to vote or cast a ballot. If MIVRA completes the remaining steps in the legislative process, we will share updates about what those changes mean and when they would take effect.

Looking Ahead

VAAC extends our thanks to the Michigan Senators who voted to pass this legislation, as well as the advocates, election officials, organizers, and community members whose efforts helped bring this bill to this point in the legislative process.

If you would like to revisit our earlier overview of the Michigan Voting Rights Act and the issues that led to its reintroduction, you can read it here: https://votingaccessforall.org/2026/05/michigan-lawmakers-reintroduce-michigan-voting-rights-act-amid-ongoing-voting-access-debates/

As this legislation continues through the legislative process, VAAC will continue providing accurate, accessible information to help Michigan voters understand what is changing, what is not, and what it means for their communities.

Take action

The Michigan Voting Rights Act is heading to the Michigan House. VAAC encourages community members to contact their state representative and ask them to support and pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act.

You can find your state representative’s contact information at house.mi.gov/AllRepresentatives.

When you call or email, you can keep your message simple:

“Hello, my name is [your name], and I live in [your city]. I am asking Representative [name] to support and pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act. Michigan voters deserve strong protections against voting discrimination and barriers to fair representation. Thank you.”

The post Michigan Senate Passes the Michigan Voting Rights Act appeared first on Voting Access For All.

This is a proposed rule. It is not final. Nothing has changed about how Michigan voters cast absentee ballots right now. Michigan voters can continue using existing absentee voting procedures under current state law.

According to the proposal, state election officials would be required to provide USPS with lists of voters who have requested absentee or mail ballots before those ballots are mailed. States would have to provide those lists at least 30 days before ballots are sent, and USPS would be directed not to deliver ballots to voters whose names do not appear on them. States would also be permitted to submit updated voter information after the initial list is provided.

If implemented, the proposal would give USPS a role in determining whether some mail ballots can be delivered. Traditionally, USPS has been responsible for delivering election mail and providing guidance to election officials on mail processing, ballot design, and delivery timelines, while state and local election officials administer elections and determine voter eligibility and ballot distribution.

The proposal stems from President Trump’s March 2026 executive order addressing voter eligibility verification, mail ballot procedures, and election administration. Among other provisions, the order directs federal agencies to take actions related to election administration and mail voting.

Legal Challenges Continue

Just one day before USPS published the proposed rule, a federal district court judge in Washington, D.C., denied requests for preliminary injunctions blocking portions of the executive order.

The court did not rule on whether the executive order is lawful. Instead, the judge found that because the challenged policies had not yet been implemented, the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a risk of immediate harm necessary to obtain preliminary relief.

Additional legal challenges remain active, including lawsuits brought by states and voting rights organizations. Plaintiffs argue that the executive order unlawfully interferes with state authority over election administration and that the President does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally change mail voting procedures established under state law. Courts have not yet ruled on those arguments.

What Michigan Voters Should Know

At this time, the proposed USPS rule does not change how voters cast absentee ballots in Michigan or elsewhere. The proposal is still under review, and litigation over related election policies is ongoing.

Michigan voters can continue using the absentee voting options currently available to them. Eligible voters may request an absentee ballot, return it by mail, return it to their local clerk’s office, or use an official secure ballot drop box where available.

VAAC encourages absentee voters to use secure ballot drop boxes whenever possible. Returning a ballot through an official drop box allows it to be delivered directly to election officials and avoids relying on mail delivery timelines.

Michigan voters can contact their local clerk or visit the Michigan Department of State website to find ballot drop box locations and learn more about absentee voting options. On the Michigan Department of State website, voters can go to “Your voter information,” then select “Where are my ballot drop boxes?” to enter their information and locate drop box locations.

Take Action: Submit Public Comments by July 2

The proposed USPS rule is currently open for public comment. Public comment gives organizations and individuals an opportunity to respond before any rule is finalized. Coalition partners are encouraging organizations and individuals to submit comments before the July 2 deadline. The more comments that are submitted, the clearer the message to USPS: Hands Off Our Votes.

If access to absentee voting is important to you, you can submit a comment explaining why voting by mail is useful in your life or community and why USPS should not adopt the proposed rule. Comments can be brief. For example, voters may choose to describe why they value having the option to vote absentee and why eligible voters should continue to have access to secure and effective mail voting.

Comments must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 2 by email to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov with the subject line “Ballot Mail.” Emailed comments must include the name and address of the commenter.

Not sure what to say? These public comments are most useful when they are written in your own words. You do not need to write a long comment. You can explain how absentee voting helps you, your family, or your community, and why you believe eligible voters should continue to have access to secure and reliable mail voting.

You may want to include:

• How you use absentee voting or why the option is important to you.
• Whether mail voting helps because of work, caregiving, disability, transportation, age, military service, rural distance, or another access need.
• Any concern that errors, outdated information, or administrative problems could keep eligible voters from receiving their ballots.
• Why you believe USPS should focus on reliable ballot delivery and leave voter eligibility and ballot distribution decisions to state and local election officials.

For more specific guidance, email contact@votingaccessforall.org with the subject line “USPS Public Comment Guidance.”

Why This Is Important

Mail voting remains a widely used part of election administration across the country. Research has consistently found that voting by mail is a secure and effective way for eligible voters to cast their ballots. According to States United Democracy Center, nearly one-third of Americans voted by mail in the 2024 general election, accounting for more than 48 million votes.

The proposal remains under review, and litigation over related election policies is ongoing. Nothing has changed about absentee voting in Michigan, and voters should continue following current Michigan absentee voting procedures.

The post USPS Ballot Mail Proposal: Nothing Has Changed for Michigan Voters, Public Comment Open Through July 2 appeared first on Voting Access For All.

As Michigan moves deeper into the 2026 election cycle, major legal and political fights over voting rights and representation are continuing across the country and here at home.

From ongoing challenges connected to the federal Voting Rights Act to court cases that could reshape representation for Black communities and other historically marginalized voters, these developments could directly affect how communities access the ballot, challenge discrimination, and build political power.

At the same time, conversations continue around the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MIVRA) and what stronger state-level voting protections could look like in Michigan. Earlier this month, Michigan lawmakers reintroduced the Michigan Voting Rights Act amid broader statewide and national debates around voting access, representation, and election policy.

We will be joined by Ben Gardner, Michigan Senior Campaign Manager at All Voting Is Local, who works with voting rights advocates across Michigan on election protection, voter education, and responding to efforts that undermine access to the ballot.

Many people are hearing pieces of these conversations online or through headlines without clear information about what these legal developments actually mean, who they affect, or what could change moving forward.

Join Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM EST at bit.ly/VAACFridays for a community conversation focused on breaking these issues down in clear and accessible language.

This meeting will cover:

• An overview of the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MIVRA)
• Recent federal voting rights developments
• Understanding Louisiana v. Callais and fair representation
• How these legal challenges could impact Michigan communities
• Voting access, districting, language access, and representation
• Community discussion, questions, and next steps heading into the 2026 elections

The outcomes of these legal fights could affect representation, voting access, districting, and how communities are able to participate in public life.

VAAC Friday meetings bring together directly impacted people, advocates, organizers, and community members from across Michigan to learn, connect, and stay informed about the issues affecting our communities.

The post Today’s VAAC Friday Community Meeting on June 12: Understanding the Michigan Voting Rights Act & The Fight for Fair Representation appeared first on Voting Access For All.

These resolutions reflect concerns that documentary proof of citizenship requirements could create new barriers for eligible voters while placing additional burdens on election officials. Communities across the state are considering resolutions in response to ongoing state and federal proposals related to voter registration and election administration.

What’s New

Momentum continues to build following the recent passage of a resolution by the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. The resolution has now been distributed to county clerks across Michigan, creating new opportunities for counties and municipalities to consider similar action.

Several communities have already passed resolutions, while many others are actively discussing next steps, identifying sponsors, or preparing resolutions for consideration.

Current Action Opportunities

Oakland County: Immediate Action Needed: Southfield City Council Vote on June 15

Community members, especially Southfield residents and organizations, are encouraged to contact Southfield City Council members and express support for a local resolution opposing the SAVE Act and documentary proof of citizenship proposals. Sharing why protecting voter access matters and encouraging local leaders to stand up against policies that could create barriers for eligible voters can help demonstrate community support as discussions continue. Additional updates and opportunities for public engagement in Southfield will be shared as more information becomes available.

Oakland County Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles introduced a resolution to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 11. A committee hearing is expected on July 7 at 9:00 AM at the Oakland County government building in Pontiac. Community support, outreach to county commissioners, and public comment will be needed as the resolution advances through the process.

Additional outreach assistance is currently needed in Ferndale, West Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, Hazel Park, Farmington, Troy, Oak Park, Novi, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, and Royal Oak Township.

Wayne County

Efforts continue in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Westland, Romulus, River Rouge, and Redford Township.

Additional outreach assistance is needed in Livonia, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Taylor, Allen Park, Trenton, Van Buren Township, and Brownstown Township.

Genesee County

The Genesee County Clerk has shared the Ingham County resolution with the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.

Community members are encouraged to contact Board Chair Dale Weighill (dweighill@geneseecountymi.gov) and urge the board to bring the resolution forward for consideration.

Outreach assistance is also needed with Flint City Council.

Additional Communities

Resolutions have been shared with local leaders or discussions are underway in:

• Muskegon County
• Eaton County
• Macomb County
• Calhoun County
• Berrien County
• Jackson County
• Saginaw County
• Bay County
• Marquette County
• Grand Traverse County

VAAC and coalition partners will continue providing updates as these efforts move forward.

Get Involved

Community members interested in helping engage city councils, county commissions, and township boards are encouraged to sign up through the coalition outreach form and share it with their networks. The form also includes a running list of municipalities and counties that have passed resolutions, making it easier to identify where support is still needed and where momentum is building.

Google Outreach Form Link

Partner Updates

All Voting is Local will participate in the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks conference in Kalamazoo on June 17 and 18. Coalition partners plan to engage election officials on documentary proof of citizenship proposals, the local resolutions project, election administration issues, and the Clerk Bill of Rights initiative.

Rising Voices will host its first Advocacy Day in Lansing on June 17 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Topics include the Michigan Voting Rights Act, ICE accountability legislation, and Teach MI History legislation. Interested participants should RSVP here and can contact Policy Coordinator Brenda Maqdasi at brenda@risingvoicesaaf.org for additional information.

VAAC will continue sharing updates as additional communities consider resolutions and opportunities for public engagement emerge.

The post Local Resolution Campaign Update: New Communities Join Effort Opposing SAVE Act and Documentary Proof of Citizenship Proposals appeared first on Voting Access For All.

The proposal would require documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers, when registering to vote or updating voter registration information.

As of early June, the Senate has not advanced the legislation, and recent efforts to move the bill forward have not succeeded.

What This Means

At this time, the SAVE America Act is not moving forward in the Senate.

This does not mean the debate over documentary proof of citizenship requirements has ended. Similar proposals continue to be discussed and advanced at both the state and local level.

Why Michigan Voters Should Pay Attention

In Michigan, House Bill 4765 would create documentary proof of citizenship requirements similar to those proposed under the SAVE Act. The bill has already passed the Michigan House of Representatives and is currently before the Michigan Senate.

At the same time, local governments across Michigan continue considering resolutions opposing the SAVE Act and documentary proof of citizenship proposals. Counties, cities, and townships throughout the state are debating whether these requirements could create new barriers for eligible voters while increasing administrative burdens on election officials.

VAAC and coalition partners will continue monitoring developments at the federal, state, and local levels and sharing updates as they become available.

The post SAVE Act Update: Federal Proposal Remains Stalled While Similar Efforts Continue in Michigan appeared first on Voting Access For All.

California and Michigan have different election laws. In California, mail ballots can still be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive within a week. Michigan does not have that same rule. That is one reason California’s count can take longer.

A slower count does not, by itself, mean ballots are being mishandled or ignored. It can mean election officials are following the rules required by state law.

What Michigan voters should know

The debate in California does not change how elections are run in Michigan.

Michigan is not expected to have the same kind of ballot-counting delay as California because Michigan’s rules are different. Unlike California, Michigan does not count absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day just because they are postmarked by Election Day. Votebeat Michigan also reported that Michigan changed its law before the 2024 election to allow communities to process absentee ballots before Election Day, though they still cannot count those ballots until Election Day. That change helped Michigan produce finalized unofficial results by the early afternoon after Election Day in 2024. 

Michigan voters can continue using the voting options available under current state law. All registered Michigan voters have the right to vote by mail using an absentee ballot. Michigan also has early in-person voting for statewide and federal elections, which allows voters to cast a ballot before Election Day at an early voting site.

When questions about elections in another state appear in the news, Michigan voters should look to Michigan election officials and trusted nonpartisan voter information sources for guidance about Michigan elections.

How misinformation affects voters

False or misleading claims about vote counting can make people unsure about whether their ballot will be counted. That confusion can discourage people from participating, especially voters who already face barriers to voting.

Vote counting timelines vary by state because each state has its own election laws. Taking time to count ballots according to state law is not evidence that votes are being changed, ignored, or thrown out.

What you can do

Coalition partners are encouraging community members to learn more about the concerns being raised in California and to support efforts that affirm the importance of counting every eligible vote.

Readers who are interested can review and sign the We Are California Open Letter to Voters. The letter is a partner response to the California debate and calls for confidence in counting every eligible ballot.

You can also help reduce confusion by checking information before sharing it. For Michigan election information, use official sources such as Michigan.gov/Vote, your city or township clerk, or the 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection Hotline if you have questions or run into a voting problem.

When election results take time, that does not mean something is wrong. It often means election workers are doing the detailed work required to count eligible ballots accurately and according to the law.

The post Why Vote Counting Takes Time: What Michigan Voters Should Know About the California Debate appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Many people are surprised to learn that individuals detained in Michigan county jails while awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing remain eligible to register to vote and vote by absentee ballot. Yet confusion around eligibility, limited access to information, and gaps in local systems often prevent eligible voters from participating in elections.

In the article, Davenport discusses the barriers many eligible voters face while detained, the importance of civic education and voter registration inside jails, and the work underway to expand jail voting access across Michigan.

The piece also highlights examples of how collaboration between advocates, election officials, sheriffs, and community organizations can help ensure eligible voters are not excluded from the democratic process simply because they are detained.

Jail voting remains a growing area of focus for VAAC’s work as the organization continues partnering with local officials, directly impacted leaders, and community organizations to expand access to voter registration, absentee voting, and civic education for eligible voters across Michigan.

Read the full article on the Michigan Voices Substack: Justice for Jail Voters

To learn more about VAAC’s jail voting work and how to get involved, visit:

The post New Michigan Voices Substack Features VAAC’s Work to Expand Jail Voting Access appeared first on Voting Access For All.

On Tuesday evening, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners overwhelmingly passed a resolution opposing the federal SAVE Act and the proposed Michigan ballot initiative that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The resolution passed by a vote of 12-1. Commissioner Thomas Morgan sponsored the resolution. Commissioner Maiville voted against the measure, while Commissioners Schafer and Ruest were absent.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting, provided public comment, contacted commissioners, and helped with outreach efforts leading up to the vote.

Supporters of these local resolutions continue raising concerns that documentary proof of citizenship requirements would create barriers for eligible voters by requiring documents such as passports or birth certificates in order to register to vote.

State and federal law already prohibit non-citizens from voting. Advocates and local leaders have raised concerns that these proposals would instead create additional hurdles for eligible voters, including people who have changed their names, moved frequently, experienced housing instability, recently returned home from incarceration, or face challenges accessing required documentation.

Ingham County now joins a growing list of local governments that have passed resolutions opposing documentary proof of citizenship requirements, including:

• Wayne County Board of Commissioners
• Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
• Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
• Detroit City Council
• Lansing City Council
• Pontiac City Council
• Ypsilanti City Council
• Meridian Township
• Inkster City Council
• Canton Township Board
• Delta Township Board

Please take a moment to thank Commissioner Thomas Morgan for sponsoring the resolution, along with the commissioners who voted in support of it.

Sign Up to Help Pass Local Resolutions

Organizing efforts continue in communities across Michigan, and additional volunteers are needed to help connect with local leaders and support outreach efforts.

Many community members have already begun working with elected officials interested in sponsoring resolutions. To help coordinate this work, avoid duplication, and expand outreach into additional communities, organizers have created a sign-up form for supporters interested in helping advance local resolutions.

The form also includes a running list of counties, cities, and townships that have already passed resolutions.

Click here to sign up using the Google Form.

Current Action Items

Southfield City Council

Please email Council President Charles Hicks at chicks@cityofsouthfield.com and ask Southfield City Council to bring the resolution forward for a vote at its next meeting.

Southfield has an opportunity to join Pontiac, Detroit, Lansing, Inkster, and other communities that have already taken action.

Genesee County Board of Commissioners

Please email Board Chair Dale Weighill at dweighill@geneseecountymi.gov and ask the Genesee County Board of Commissioners to bring the resolution forward for a vote at its next meeting.

Genesee County has an opportunity to join Ingham, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Kalamazoo counties in taking action on this issue.

Westland City Council

Please email Council President Mike McDermott at mmcdermott@cityofwestland.com and ask Westland City Council to bring the resolution forward for a vote at its next meeting.

Westland has an opportunity to join Wayne County, Detroit, Canton Township, Inkster, and other communities that have already passed resolutions opposing documentary proof of citizenship requirements.

Community turnout, public comment, relationship-building, and direct outreach continue shaping how local leaders respond to these proposals.

When residents show up, share their experiences, and stay engaged with local government, they help build civic power and influence decisions that affect communities across Michigan.

The post Ingham County Passes Resolution Opposing SAVE Act and Documentary Proof of Citizenship Proposal appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC), in partnership with Indivisible Metro Detroit, are hosting additional community pop-ups where participants can create personal art pieces connected to their experiences, perspectives, and reflections on voting and civic life on May 28th.

Through writing, drawing, collage, and mixed media, participants are contributing 5×7 pieces that will become part of a larger public installation centered on voting rights, access, and community voice.

The project creates space for people to reflect on questions including:

• What does voting mean to me?
• What barriers do communities face when trying to vote?
• What does it look like to protect access to voting?

The installation is rooted in the understanding that not every experience connected to voting, exclusion, or civic participation can be fully explained through policy discussions alone. Art creates another way for people to express frustration, hope, memory, resistance, and lived experience.

No art experience is needed. Participants can create independently or alongside others.

The work is being developed in collaboration with Detroit artist, writer, and storyteller Yusef Qualls-El, whose work explores incarceration, race, identity, dignity, and the silencing of marginalized voices. His leadership helps ground this project in lived experience, creative expression, and community storytelling.

Join us at the next pop-up:

Thursday, May 28 | 5:00 to 7:30 PM
Jim’s Corner
22757 Woodward Ave Ste 100, Ferndale

VAAC and community partners are also planning additional art pop-ups as part of the Good Trouble Lives On Weekend of Action taking place July 17–19, 2026.

The national weekend of action honors the legacy of Congressman John Lewis through grassroots organizing, voting rights advocacy, and nonviolent action focused on protecting democracy and civil rights.

Additional event details, locations, and times will be announced soon.

Community members are invited to stop by, create, reflect, and contribute to the growing installation.

The post Voting Rights Art Pop-Ups Continue In Ferndale appeared first on Voting Access For All.