Press Releases

MICHIGAN SENATE PASSES VOTING ACCESS LEGISLATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

PRESS CONTACT:
Sarah Harris, [email protected]

Bill expands voting rights in Great Lakes State

LANSING — Today, the Michigan Senate passed the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MIVRA), which would expand voting rights and access in the state. This session, Stand Up America rallied behind the legislation alongside Promote the Vote Michigan, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Michigan, and others.

Since last year, Stand Up America’s Michigan members have driven more than 600 constituent calls and 3,200 emails to lawmakers to help pass the MIVRA. Our Michigan members will continue to call and email their lawmakers to ensure the MIVRA becomes law. 

Stand Up America’s Managing Director of Policy & Political Affairs, Brett Edkins, released the following statement after the passage:

“Today’s passage is another important step toward strengthening voting rights for every eligible Michigander, and making the Great Lakes State a national leader on democracy. Building on the success of passing Prop 2 and other democracy legislation, Michigan is emerging as a strong defender of the right to vote. With this legislation, Michigan can help fill the gap as Congress drags its feet and democracy is threatened in states across the country.

“No matter what issue you care about the most––from economic opportunity, to reproductive rights, to gun safety, to climate change––Michigan can’t make lasting progress without protecting the freedom to vote. The time to act is now. We’re grateful the Michigan Senate passed this critical legislation, and we look forward to supporting this bill in the House.”

The Michigan Voting Rights Act is a sweeping legislative package which would:

  • Provide new legal tools (a private right of action) to fight voter suppression in court;
  • Expand language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency;
  • Ensure advance public notice of key voting changes to enable voters and voting rights advocates to take action;
  • Expand election assistance, such as curbside voting and support for electors in line;
  • Provide new protections and assistance for voters with disabilities;
  • Establish a central database for election information to increase transparency and promote best practices; and
  • Allow courts to require judicial pre-approval before voting changes can go into effect in jurisdictions that have violated voting rights laws.

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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with nearly two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven over 1.7 million calls to lawmakers, registered over 100,000 voters, mobilized thousands of protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.

Website: StandUpAmerica.com
Twitter: @StandUpAmerica
Instagram: @StandUp_America
Facebook: @StandUpAmerica