Voting Access For All

Protecting Voting

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Voting Rights Are Under Attack

Across the country and here in Michigan, coordinated attacks are threatening our freedom to vote. These proposals claim to protect our elections. In reality, our elections are already extremely secure by virtue of constitutional amendments passed overwhelmingly by Michigan voters in 2018 and 2022. But now, an amendment may be on the 2026 ballot that would tie voters up in red tape and block access to the ballot, especially for voters who already face barriers.

Voter restrictions do not solve real problems. Instead, they create new ones. They target people already facing barriers, including justice-impacted voters, unhoused citizens, Black and brown voters, rural residents, low-income communities, and those who have changed their names due to marriage, transition, or religious reasons. That is the point. These efforts are not about securing our elections. They are about controlling who can participate in them, and they amount to a modern-day poll tax, forcing people to pay for access to their rights.

collage of warning flyers about voter restrictions

What’s at Stake in Michigan

Michigan voters have already made our position clear. In 2018 and again in 2022, we passed constitutional amendments to expand and protect the right to vote. We secured early voting, same-day registration, absentee ballot tracking, and more. These systems are working. Our elections are safe and secure.

Threats We Are Tracking in Michigan

Here are the latest threats we are looking at. New threats surface every day, so check back often for the latest information.

Protect Voters Rights

Status: Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Circulating in Michigan.

This petition would:

  • Require documentary proof of citizenship to register, even for already-registered voters.
  • Eliminate online registration and prevent registration drives at churches, community centers, and reentry programs.
  • Repeal voting protections that Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed in 2022.

This initiative misleads voters with a name that implies protection, but it would take away rights that are already secure.

One VAAC member, whom we’ll call John Walker (name changed for privacy), discovered that the name on his birth certificate read as Johnny, and did not match the name on his driver’s license or passport, which read John Jr. The discrepancy stems from a change imposed on his father when he joined the military, altering the family naming conventions. John only became aware of the mismatch when handling legal matters after his father’s passing. He now faces uncertainty about which version of his name would be accepted if proof of citizenship were required, and whether he has the means or documentation to resolve the issue. His experience is not unique, and illustrates the types of recordkeeping challenges that could easily become voting barriers under these initiatives.

Americans for Citizen Voting (AfCV)

Status: Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Hundreds of thousands of signatures have been collected.

This petition includes many of the same harmful provisions as the one described above. In addition, it would:

  • Add language that allows for the cancellation of voter registrations for people who do not meet new verification standards or who have not voted in recent elections. This could strip registrations from people who are eligible to vote now but have not had the opportunity to do so, including many returning community members reengaging in the process.
  • Impose criminal penalties on election officials who register someone without fully verifying citizenship according to these unclear new rules.

This initiative creates serious risks for voters and for election workers, who could face criminal charges for mistakes made under confusing and unclear rules. Although the Board rejected the summary, the group has stated they plan to revise and resubmit.

The SAVE Act (Federal Legislation)

Status: Re-introduced in the House.

Call your senators and representative in Washington and let them know about this bill!

Take Action

This bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will not “save” anything. It would:

  • Require documentary proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate or passport, to register or re-register.
  • Eliminate online and mail-in registration options.
  • Shut down community-based voter registration drives.
  • Force voters to re-register when they move or change their name.

The reality is that citizenship is already a requirement to vote, and instances of noncitizen voting are incredibly rare. The effect of adding more requirements will be that many eligible voters will no longer be able to vote and voting will become more difficult and burdensome for everyone.

These requirements would tie many voters up in red tape, creating barriers that many voters cannot meet. They would hit hardest in communities already dealing with housing instability, low income, lack of transportation, or name changes due to marriage or religious reasons. Formerly incarcerated individuals often face difficulties accessing the documents required.

Make Elections Great Again Act (MEGA)

Call your senators and representative in Washington and let them know about this bill!

Take Action

A sweeping bill that would attempt to take power away from the states regarding how elections are conducted was just introduced in January. We are still getting information about what is proposed, and parts of it may be unconstitutional. Regardless, it would be a disaster for Michigan. Here’s some of what would change:

  • Mail-in voting would be extremely limited. States would not be allowed to count ballots delayed by USPS, even if they were properly sent prior to Election Day by eligible voters.
  • Ranked choice voting would become illegal. This is a voting scheme used in multiple areas across Michigan that lets voters choose the best candidates even when there are more than two on the ballot.
  • States would be required to routinely purge voter rolls.

What We Are Doing

We are working hard to fight back against these dangerous measures that threaten the rights of millions of Michigan voters.

  • Informational presentations;
  • Flyers and educate voters at rallies, festivals, and other large events;
  • Tracking where petition circulators are operating so we can ensure voters know what they’re being asked to sign.

Last Updated:

Get involved! We would love to have your help. We are training and deploying volunteers across Michigan. Contact us to volunteer.

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