Michigan lawmakers have reintroduced the Michigan Voting Rights Act in both the Michigan Senate and Michigan House as statewide and national debates around voting access, election administration, and voter eligibility requirements continue.

Supporters are advancing the package amid growing legal and political challenges to federal voting rights protections, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision en Louisiana contra Callais. Advocates say the legislation would create stronger state-level protections against voter suppression, vote dilution, and barriers to participation as federal voting rights protections continue to weaken.

Michigan does not currently have a standalone state Voting Rights Act, meaning many voting rights safeguards depend primarily on federal law and court enforcement. Recent U.S. Senate discussions following the Callais decision have also focused on how weakening federal Voting Rights Act protections could affect majority-Black districts, district maps, and future voting rights enforcement nationwide.

In the Senate, lawmakers introduced Senate Bills 961, 962, 963, y 964 as part of the Michigan Voting Rights Act package. Lead sponsors include Sen. Darrin Camilleri, Sen. Jeremy Moss, Sen. Stephanie Chang, y Sen. Erika Geiss, with additional Senate co-sponsors supporting the legislation. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson worked with legislators to reintroduce the package, and Senate Democrats outlined the legislation during a press conference this week alongside Benson and other lawmakers. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie also testified in support of the legislation before the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee.

Companion legislation was also introduced in the Michigan House through House Bills 5969, 5970, 5971, y 5972 por State Rep. Jason Hoskins, State Rep. Stephanie A. Young, State Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, y State Rep. Veronica Paiz. The package would establish additional safeguards connected to election administration, voter access, and enforcement protections in Michigan. The legislation is modeled in part after state-level voting rights laws adopted in states including California, Nueva York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregón, Virginia, y Washington, where lawmakers have enacted additional protections and enforcement mechanisms at the state level.

The proposed legislation includes provisions that would:

• Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and suppression and create legal remedies for violations
• Establish a nonpartisan voting rights institute and database focused on election administration, research, training, and public information
• Expand language access by increasing translated election materials, multilingual voting information, and language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency
• Clarify protections for voters with disabilities and voters who need assistance casting a ballot
  

The reintroduction of the Michigan Voting Rights Act comes as communities across Michigan continue organizing around documentary proof of citizenship proposals, including HB 4765 y el Ley SAVE.

Community groups, local leaders, election advocates, and voting rights organizations opposing those proposals continue raising concerns that requiring documents such as passports or birth certificates in order to register to vote could create barriers for eligible voters.

Advocates have pointed to the impact these requirements could have on people who have moved frequently, changed their names, lost records, recently returned home from incarceration, or face housing instability.

The Michigan Voting Rights Act package and local organizing efforts are unfolding alongside broader statewide conversations about voting access, voter data, election worker protections, election oversight, and participation in Michigan elections.

Submit Support

As the legislation moves through the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee, community members can email OfcSCC@senate.michigan.gov and express support for Senate Bills 961, 962, 963, and 964.

VAAC will continue following developments connected to voting access, election administration, and policies that affect civic participation across Michigan.