[DATE], 2024

Michigan House
PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

RE: PASS THE MICHIGAN VOTING RIGHTS ACT (S.B. 401, 402, 403, & 404)

Dear Members of the Michigan House,

We write to urge you to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act (“MIVRA” or S.B. 401, 402, 403, and 404), which passed the Senate in September. If enacted, the MIVRA would be one of the most significant civil rights laws in Michigan’s history. It will cement Michigan’s recent pro-democracy gains by protecting the freedom to vote for all Michiganders.

Heading into 2025 and beyond, the best way we can prepare for attacks on voting rights and democracy at the federal level is to pass the MIVRA now. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Michigan voters want their representatives to prioritize passing a MIVRA. This chance won't come again soon, and we cannot afford to wait.

The MIVRA is a top priority for the undersigned organizations.

By passing the MIVRA, Michigan has an opportunity to create a more equitable and inclusive democracy. Despite recent progress, voters of color, non-English speakers, and voters with disabilities in Michigan continue to face barriers to equal participation in our democracy. In recent years, Michigan has experienced racially targeted voter intimidation and efforts to disenfranchise voters of color. Michigan needs stronger protections to address discriminatory voting practices.

Federal law alone does not do enough to protect Michigan voters. Section 2 of the Federal Voting Rights Act (“VRA”) provides crucial protections against racial discrimination in voting, but these protections have been weakened by federal courts in recent years. In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, for instance, the Supreme Court imposed new burdens on voters seeking to vindicate their voting rights in court under Section 2. Moreover, litigation under Section 2 can be expensive, time consuming, and complex. And, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which covers Michigan, further weakened Section 2 of the federal VRA by barring “coalition” claims, i.e., claims arising when plaintiffs seek a remedy vindicating the rights of two or more minority groups facing similar discrimination from a redistricting map or method of election. Now more than ever, we need state leaders to stand up for equal, inclusive democracy, and Michigan now has the opportunity to do just that.

The MIVRA will make Michigan’s democracy more inclusive by: 

• Expanding protections for voters with disabilities.

• Creating a central public hub for election data and information to promote transparency.

• Expanding language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency.

• Enshrining robust protections against voter suppression and vote dilution into state law.

• Protecting access to curbside voting.

• Ensuring that voters receive advanced notice of changes to key electoral procedures.  

• Providing efficient and practical ways to resolve barriers to equal participation in local democracy before litigation occurs.

• Launching a “preapproval” remedy that allows courts to hold local governments accountable for up to ten years following a voting rights violation.

The MIVRA builds upon successful state VRAs that have already passed in California, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Minnesota. The MIVRA will carry this momentum forward and provide some of the most robust state-level voting protections in the country.

Michigan can and should cement its role as a national leader in protecting the rights of voters of color. We urge you to support the MIVRA and we stand ready to work with you to secure these crucial protections for Michigan voters.

Sincerely,

[List signing organizations]

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Surprise, a long time required practice that happens before every election in all municipalities that offers citizens the opportunity to attend, see how the election equipment works and how the ballots are tabulated! The tests serve to verify that the equipment is prepared to count the ballots properly. Become a Democracy Defender and check out a Public Logic and Accuracy Test near you!

LEARN MORE

Today: If you’re planning to vote from home, you can request an absentee ballot online or submit a paper application. Of course, if you’re on the Permanent Mail Ballot List, you can skip this step. (However, if you’re on the permanent application list, you still must apply for your ballot.) 

September 26: First day that you can vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office. If you vote at your city or township clerk’s office, you will place your absentee ballot into an envelope to be tabulated later.

October 7: Communities may begin offering early voting on this date, although most will not do so for another couple of weeks. If you vote early at an early voting site, you will be able to put your ballot into the tabulator, just like you do on Election Day.

October 15: If you want to vote from home, we recommend that you request your ballot by this date to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline. (For most voters, your ballot must be received by your local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 5) to count. But if you’re serving in the military or living overseas, your ballot must be postmarked by November 5 and received by November 11 to count.)