Last week, Voting Access For All Coalition launched Vote Unlocked MI with an in-person convening focused on strengthening voting access for eligible people in Michigan jails.

That kickoff brought together jail leadership, clerks and election officials, voting-rights organizations, directly impacted leaders, and legal partners from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Genesee Counties to identify gaps before Election Day, share resources, and strengthen the pathways eligible detained voters need to register, request a ballot, and vote.

Now that work continues during Semana Nacional de Educación al Votante.

En Wednesday, October 7, VAAC will host the next Vote Unlocked MI Jail Voting Meeting, this time virtually, so partners can continue working together as the November 3 election approaches.

Keeping the work moving before Election Day

The September 30 kickoff was designed to bring the people involved in jail voting access into the same room and identify where coordination and support are still needed.

The October 7 virtual meeting will continue that work.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

• Identify remaining gaps in voter education, registration, absentee ballot access, and ballot return inside Michigan jails
• Strengthen communication between jail staff and local election officials
• Share jail voting resources and effective practices
• Discuss challenges that are coming up as Election Day gets closer
• Continue developing clear pathways for eligible detained voters to register, request a ballot, and vote

Attendees will also receive jail voting materials and resources that can be used and shared with eligible detained voters, jail staff, election officials, community organizations, and others supporting voting access.

Why this matters during National Voter Education Week

National Voter Education Week is focused on helping voters understand their ballot, know where and how they can vote, and make a plan before Election Day.

Those same needs apply to eligible voters who are detained.

Making voting rights meaningful requires more than knowing who is eligible. Voters also need access to registration information, absentee ballot applications, their ballots, and a reliable way to return those ballots on time.

Vote Unlocked MI is focused on helping the people and institutions involved in that process work together before problems arise on Election Day.

Join the October 7 virtual meeting

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
10:30 AM to 1:30 PM ET
Virtual

Jail leadership and staff, clerks and election officials, voting-rights organizations, directly impacted leaders, legal partners, and others working to support voting access for eligible detained voters are invited to participate.

Join the virtual meeting at vaac.me/VAACJV

If an eligible voter in a Michigan jail does not have access to a ballot, we should know about it before Election Day, not after.