DETROIT — Today All Voting is Local Michigan, ACLU of Michigan, Common Cause MI, Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Progress Michigan, Pontiac Policy Action Fund, and Voting Rights Lab issued the following statement in response to the introduction of 40 voting-related bills, including measures to curtail access to absentee voting and ballot drop boxes, making it harder for Michiganians to vote:
“Our Michigan Legislature must commit to common-sense measures that are based on data and facts, respect the will of the voters, and ensure all Michiganians have equal access to the ballot. Most of the measures will only make voting more difficult and disenfranchise Michigan voters.
“We must build on the proven successes of last year’s election and move forward, not backward, on access to our democracy. We will hold Michigan lawmakers to account to ensure that any voting-related legislation protects our freedom to vote how we choose.”
Background:
Michigan state lawmakers introduced 40 voting-related bills including:
- Senate Bill 0287: Bans prepaid postage on return envelopes for mailed ballots
- Senate Bill 310: Bars the secretary of state’s office from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications
- Senate Bill 0286: Shortens the deadline to return mailed ballots in a ballot dropbox from 8 p.m. on Election Day to 5 p.m. the day before
- Senate Bill 0285: Requires photo identification for all absentee ballot applicants