Across Michigan, people are asking the same question: what exactly is on the ballot in 2026? With multiple initiatives circulating, confusing ballot language, and coordinated misinformation campaigns, community organizations and volunteers want clear, accurate information they can confidently bring back to their teams. This Train-the-Trainer event is designed to do exactly that.

Hosted by ABC for Justice with support from VAAC and partner organizations, this session will walk through the major ballot initiatives currently circulating, including: voter ID policy, citizenship requirements for voting, MiKids, Ranked Choice Voting, campaign finance measures, and the Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers referendum. Participants will leave with tools, talking points, and shared strategies for helping people understand what they are signing and why it matters.

Breaking down silos and building power is how we win long-term. This event creates a shared foundation of knowledge so every organizer, volunteer, and directly impacted leader can push accurate information into their communities.

If you are interested in presenting on one of the initiatives, review Michigan’s ballot initiatives on Ballotpedia here.

The post Get Ready for 2026: Join the Train-the-Trainer on Michigan’s Ballot Initiatives appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Join us today for the VAAC Friday Community Meeting, where directly impacted people, organizers, and advocates come together to talk about the issues shaping our communities.

This week’s discussion, “Housing Is a Human Right,” centers on the urgent need for safe, stable housing for all Michiganders — including those returning home from incarceration or facing barriers due to economic hardship or disability. We will explore the connections between housing access, civic participation, and community power.

Fridays, 12:30–1:30 PM EST
Virtual on Zoom
Register at bit.ly/VAACFridays

We’ll meet today, Friday, November 7, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM EST on Zoom. There is always space for questions, updates, and shared strategy.

As we close out the year, please save the dates for our final 2025 community meetings: November 21 and December 5.

The post Housing Is a Human Right: Join Today’s VAAC Friday Community Meeting appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Over the past week, Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC) has been on the ground helping people across Michigan exercise their right to vote — from clearing warrants to celebrating early voting and sharing clear, accurate information about how to cast a ballot.

Fresh Starts at the Warrant Clinic

At last Saturday’s Detroit Warrant Clinic, nearly 1,000 misdemeanor and traffic arrest warrants were resolved, giving hundreds of people a second chance and a fresh start. VAAC was proud to be part of this life-changing event, reminding everyone that in Michigan:

• You can vote even if you have a felony or misdemeanor.
• You can vote while on probation, parole, or tether.
• You can vote without a Michigan ID or stable housing.
• You can vote if you have a disability or are a naturalized citizen.

This work is about more than clearing warrants — it’s about restoring freedom, dignity, and the power to participate in democracy fully.

Party at the Polls

VAAC also joined the City of Detroit’s Party at the Polls to celebrate the start of early voting (Oct. 25 – Nov. 2). With music, community, and information, we reminded voters that early voting is open now — no need to wait until Election Day.

Visit votingaccessforall.org or your local clerk’s website to find early voting locations and hours.

Where and How to Vote

Still need to register? There’s time.
You can visit your local clerk’s office this weekend to register and vote the same day.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, but early voting continues through Nov. 2 — and your voice matters now.

The post Out in the Community: Clearing Barriers, Celebrating Early Voting, and Making Every Voice Count appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Voting Access for All Coalition stands with the League of Women Voters (LWV) in calling on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to reject a petition that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. This harmful change would create new barriers that silence eligible voters—particularly communities already facing obstacles to the ballot box.

Under this proposal, individuals would be forced to provide documents such as passports or Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses to prove citizenship before registering. These unnecessary requirements would disenfranchise thousands of voters and undermine decades of progress in expanding access to democracy.

We can stop it—but only if we act now.

Submit your public comment opposing the petition

Visit lwv.org/take-action to get sample language and instructions, then submit your comment directly at regulations.gov.

Together, we can defend every person’s right to participate freely and fairly in our democracy.

The post Take Action: Protect Your Freedom to Vote appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Our Executive Director, Angela Davenport, was thrilled to attend Community Conversation + Family Story Time with Rep. Stephanie Chang in Detroit.

It’s never too early to begin learning about civic engagement. Events like this remind us that democracy is built across generations—by creating spaces where young people, families, and neighbors can come together to share stories, ask questions, and imagine leadership at every age.

At Voting Access for All, we believe that fostering community connection today strengthens participation tomorrow. By lifting up civic education in accessible, joyful settings, we help build a culture where every voice counts and every vote matters.

The post Building Civic Engagement from the Start appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Today, Tuesday, September 16, we mark National Voter Registration Day, a powerful reminder that your vote is your voice. Every registration form completed is an act of courage and commitment to equality. At a time when lawmakers across the country are pushing restrictive measures to silence us, expanding access to the ballot is one of the strongest tools we have to protect democracy.

Since 2020, we’ve seen an alarming rise in efforts to suppress the vote, from limiting early voting and ballot access to redrawing districts that weaken community power. These barriers remind us why the values of voice and equality must guide our collective action. Voting ensures that our communities, especially those historically excluded, can shape the policies that impact our daily lives.

VAAC is committed to breaking down those barriers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with impacted people, and building a democracy where everyone counts.

Don’t wait, check your registration status and register today. Share the link below with friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can ensure that every voice is heard.

Register to Vote Now

The post Your Voice, Your Power: Take Action on National Voter Registration Day appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Lawmakers in several states are working quickly to eliminate grace periods for mail-in ballots—policies that have long ensured voters who mail their ballots on time still have their votes counted if delivery is delayed.

Kansas has already passed a law ending its grace period. In Utah, ballots must now be received by Election Day to be counted. And in Mississippi, a federal court recently stripped away the state’s five-day grace period.

These changes threaten the voting rights of many, particularly:

Voters relying on last-minute information before casting their ballots

People voting from jail

Rural communities with slower mail delivery

This isn’t just a red-state issue—this is a coordinated attack on access to the ballot.

At VAAC, we’re staying vigilant in Michigan. We’re monitoring for proposed changes and working to ensure our communities understand what’s at stake—and how to take action.

Read more from Democracy Docket

Let’s stay ready, stay informed, and stay powerful.

The post Eliminating Grace Periods: A New Attack on Mail Voting appeared first on Voting Access For All.

The SAVE Act has passed the U.S. House—and now it’s headed to the Senate.

This dangerous bill would make it harder for millions of eligible voters to register, re-register, or cast a ballot. It’s a direct threat to justice-impacted individuals, Black and Brown voters, low-income communities, and anyone without access to costly documents like passports or birth certificates.

This isn’t about election security—it’s about silencing our voices.

Who Loses Access Under the SAVE Act?

• Anyone who changed their name due to marriage, transition, or religion
• People impacted by the criminal legal system
• Black and Brown voters
• Unhoused individuals
• Seniors & Low-income voters

Millions could be blocked from registering or forced to re-register—if they can even get the right paperwork.

This is not integrity. It’s suppression.

What You Can Do Today:

• Call or email your senators
• Tell your community what this bill really does
• Share it in your group chats, family convos, and social feeds
• Say it loud: We will not let them take our power

Voting is how we protect our families, our future, and our freedom.

Find action steps and contact info at votingaccessforall.org

The post The SAVE Act Is Voter Suppression. Here’s How We Fight Back appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Key steps:

• Check if your community is voting
• See the full list of participating jurisdictions (PDF)
• Go to MichiganVoting.org for updates and help

Whether you’re voting early, absentee, or on Election Day—VAAC is here to help you access the ballot.

The post Make your plan to vote—check now, stay ready, and help spread the word. appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Don’t miss this chance to connect and stand together for women’s rights and democracy!

Monday, March 24th from 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Southfield Area, address provided upon RSVP.

RSVP now and let’s reclaim our power!

P.S. In the spirit of Rosie the Riveter, we encourage you to wear a red bandanna, jean jacket, or denim shirt as a symbol of solidarity and power.

The post Reclaiming Our Power with Jocelyn Benson – Women’s History Month Event Monday! appeared first on Voting Access For All.