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Promote the Vote
Guest host Kyle Melinn invites Cook to explain the "Promote the Vote" ballot proposal and the opposition it's faced.
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The group behind the voting rights constitutional amendment pulled in $1.5 million in the past quarter, bringing the total raised by Promote the Vote to $2.7 million.
A big chunk of that is from the national ACLU in New York, which has now poured in $2.2 million total for the campaign.
Promote the Vote has also benefited from the UAW and its $150,000 contribution, and another $100,000 is from Campaign for Democracy, which is listed at a Los Angeles address. Denise Ilitch, listed as president of Ilitch Enterprises, also chipped in $1,000 to Promote the Vote.
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The Detroit Chamber of Commerce today announced it is supporting the likely ballot proposal allowing for same-day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting and other voting-related reforms, but not proposals to raise Michigan's minimum wage to $12 an hour or mandate employers give employees paid sick days.
"The health of our democracy requires active participation from voters," said Sandy BARUAH, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. "The voting rights ballot initiative will make it easier for voters to speak and bring Michigan more in line with voting practices of other states across the country."
Baruah said the $12 minimum wage and paid sick leave proposals "would slow hiring and create undo burden on job creators."
The Detroit Regional Chamber today announced its support for a ballot proposal that would amend Michigan’s constitution to remove voting barriers for Michigan voters. The “Promote the Vote” amendment will ensure that citizens who face challenges such as long voting lines, inconvenient polling locations and inflexible work schedules - as well as those serving in the military - have their votes counted.
“The health of our democracy requires active participation from voters,” said Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. “The Promote the Vote ballot initiative will make it easier for voters to speak and bring Michigan more in line with voting practices of other states across the country.
The proposed amendment will:
- Protect the right to vote a secret ballot.
- Ensure military service members and overseas voters get their ballots in on time.
- Provide voters with the option to vote straight party.
- Automatically register citizens to vote at the Secretary of State’s office unless the citizen declines.
- Allow a citizen to register to anytime with proof of residency up to and on Election Day.
- Provide all registered voters access to an absentee ballot for any reason.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections by auditing election results.
Promote the Vote Campaign Manager Todd Cook called the Chamber’s endorsement validation of the proposal’s broad appeal.
“The Detroit Regional Chamber’s endorsement highlights that fact that Promote the Vote is a common- sense proposal that people and organizations across the political spectrum support,” Cook said.
Serving the business community for more than 100 years, the Detroit Regional Chamber is one of the oldest, largest and most respected chambers of commerce in the country. As the voice for business in the 11-county Southeast Michigan region, the Chamber’s mission is carried out through creating a business-friendly climate and value for members, leading a robust economic development strategy, and convening Michigan’s most influential audience at the nationally unique Mackinac Policy Conference.
The Detroit Regional Chamber has decided to support a ballot initiative to allow for same-day voter registration and no-reason absentee voting but will oppose proposals for a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave, the chamber announced Wednesday.
Echoing ACLU head Kary Moss, who had previously made similar remarks, chamber president and CEO Sandy Baruah said the Promote the Vote proposal would encourage active participation from voters - something that is key to "the health of our democracy."
Read the full article here.
A proposed constitutional amendment to allow anyone to vote absentee for any reason, legalize same-day voter registration and make other changes to the voting process has spent $2.5 million so far as it seeks ballot access.
Promote the Vote has raised $2.74 million, $1.52 million during the most recent reporting period from April 21 through July 20. It has $232,221 cash on hand.
Read the full article here.
Today, at the Secretary of State’s Richard Austin Building, dozens of volunteers unloaded over one hundred and twenty-five boxes of signatures from more than 430,000 Michiganders to place a Constitutional amendment on the November ballot that will make voting more accessible for all Michigan voters. These signatures were collected from Michiganders from every county who support the Promote the Vote campaign.
“All across our great state, from the upper reaches of the UP to the bustling cities of southeastern Michigan, Michiganders are standing strong for this effort to expand access to the vote,” said Todd Cook, Campaign Director for Promote The Vote.
The Promote the Vote amendment offers a common-sense approach to removing voting barriers for working families. The amendment will ensure that citizens who face challenges such as long voting lines, inconvenient polling locations, inflexible work schedules, and those serving in the military have their votes counted.
The proposed amendment will also:
- Protect the right to vote a secret ballot.
- Ensure military service members and overseas voters get their ballots in on time.
- Provide voters with the option to vote straight party.
- Automatically register citizens to vote at the Secretary of State’s office unless the citizen declines.
- Allow a citizen to register to anytime with proof of residency up to and on Election Day.
- Provide all registered voters access to an absentee ballot for any reason.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections by auditing election results.
"Right now, Michigan is sadly behind most states in making it possible for all voices to be heard on election day,” said Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan, a strategic partner in the Promote the Vote Coalition. “Promote the Vote will make it possible for working women and men to vote absentee, register up to and including election day, protect the voting rights of all those serving overseas, and guarantee election audits. It's time to put decisions about how to vote and when to vote directly in the hands of voters because politicians in Lansing have been unwilling to do what is necessary."
A coalition attempting to expand and enshrine voting rights in the Michigan Constitution submitted more than 430,000 signatures to the state Monday for a potential ballot proposal.
The “Promote the Vote” initiative would allow no-reason absentee voting by mail, guarantee continued straight-party voting and let residents register to vote up to and on Election Day.
The proposed constitutional amendment is backed the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, the League of Women Voters of Michigan, the Detroit chapter of the NAACP and the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Read the full article here.
More than 430,000 signatures were submitted Monday for a 2018 ballot initiative to expand voting in Michigan by allowing absentee ballots to be cast for any reason and implementing measures such as same-day voter registration.
Organizers of the Promote the Vote constitutional amendment include the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, the League of Women Voters and the NAACP's state and Detroit branches.
"Democracy is most effective when the most possible people participate," ACLU of Michigan Executive Director Kary Moss said during a news conference outside the state elections bureau. "It is time that we had voting reforms in the state because people have died to win and exercise their right to vote. Voting should be easier, it should be accessible and it should be something that everybody can do."
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Civil rights groups in Michigan say they’ve collected enough signatures to allow voters in November to choose whether they want to amend the state constitution to include a series of measures designed to make it easier to vote there.
The potential constitutional amendment includes two elements that voting advocates say could significantly expand access to the ballot box: requiring the state’s motor vehicle agency to automatically register people when they get a driver’s license or personal ID card (people may opt out if they don’t want to register) and allowing people to register to vote on Election Day. Michigan currently requires people to register to vote at least 30 days before an election, the earliest it is allowed to do so under federal law.
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More than 430,000 signatures were submitted on Monday as part of an initiative to expand access to voting in Michigan, according to The Associated Press.
The news outlet reported on Monday that the initiative, known as Promote the Vote, is an effort to expand voting in the state by allowing absentee ballots to be cast for any reason and by also putting in place measures like same-day voter registration.
Read the full article here.
Michigan voters may get a chance in November to change voting laws in this state as backers of a petition drive filed over 400,000 signatures today hoping to make it easier to vote.
"Voting should be easier. it should be accountable," said Kary Moss of the Michigan ACLU. "It should be something that everybody can do."
And to put that voting reform issue on the statewide ballot in November the coalition Promote The Vote filed 430,000 signatures to put this constitutional amendment before the voters.
Read the full article here.
77% of likely November 2018 Michigan voters would vote yes on the Promote the Vote ballot measure according to results of an EPIC-MRA poll released today. Promote the Vote would amend the state’s constitution and provide a common-sense approach to safeguarding Michigan elections by putting voters first and removing barriers to voting for working families. Specifically it would:
- Ensure military service members and overseas voters get their ballots in time for their votes to count;
- Protect the right to vote by secret ballot;
- Automatically register citizens to vote at the Secretary of State’s office unless the citizen declines;
- Provide all registered voters the option of voting by absentee ballot for any reason;
- Allow a citizen to register to vote anytime with proof of residency up to and on election day;
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections by auditing election results;
- And provide voters with the option to vote straight party.
"The strong support shown for Promote the Vote by voters across the state comes from the fact that this measure is focused on making sure that every eligible voter can make their voice and that voting is secure and fair,” said Judy Karandjeff President, League of Women Voters of Michigan and Treasurer, Promote the Vote.
Bernie Porn, President of EPIC-MRA added “Support for Promote the Vote is significant and consistent across the state and across party lines. While the yes vote is highest in northern Michigan, every region of the state has the yes vote over 70%. Similarly when you look at party affiliation, Republicans vote yes on a 70% - 19% basis while support from Democrats comes in at 86% yes to just 6% no.”
It is long past time that Michigan modernized its election system and do so smartly. Several bills voted out of the state Senate and pending before the House would allow online voter registration to be advanced by Republican and Democratic lawmakers. This is not revolutionary. More than 38 states and Washington D.C., already have this modern-day convenience.
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In the blockbuster film “Black Panther,” the fictional African nation Wakanda is protected by the Dora Milaje, a fierce army of spear-bearing women warriors. In real life, the political interests of black Americans are guarded by another group of heroines: black women voters.
Black women have long been one of America’s most reliable voting blocs. In fact, black women voters outpaced every other race/gender subgroup in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. Last fall, black women were largely credited with turning back Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore and driving black women such as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell into office.
It should come as no surprise that black women take the vote seriously. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s important to remember how hard African American women fought for the right to vote. For example, in 1943 – 12 years before the Montgomery Bus Boycott – Rosa Parks endured the indignity of being forced to take three literacy tests to prove she was worthy to receive a ballot in Alabama.
When election officials realized that Parks would not be deterred by the tests, they charged her a hefty poll tax, thinking that would stop her from casting a ballot. It wasn’t the first or last time a determined black woman had been underestimated. Mrs. Parks paid the tax and never missed another election.
Because of the bravery and sacrifices of black women like Mrs. Parks, I feel a special obligation to protect the vote and expand access to it. That’s why I’m proud that the Michigan State Conference of the NAACP, which I lead, is supporting the Promote the Vote amendment. The amendment will help expand access to the vote by:
These measures are especially important for women who have pressing responsibilities at work and at home whose ability to vote can be stymied by inflexible registration deadlines and arbitrary voting rules.
Every day, hardworking Michigan women raise families, build careers and support their communities. We entrust women with so much. There’s no reason we shouldn’t give Michigan women – and all citizens – access to our most precious asset: democracy.
On Sunday, March 11, Spotlight on the News will look at "Promote the Vote", the petition drive campaign to amend the Michigan Constitution to make "voting more accessible, secure and fair," according to its supporters. Attorneys Kary Moss of the Michigan ACLU and Kahlilah Spencer of the NAACP will be our guests.
Read the full article here.
DETROIT, MI - Noting our democracy thrives when our voting system works for everyone, former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and former Wayne County Clerk Teola P. Hunter on Friday endorsed a comprehensive election reform initiative planned for the November ballot.
“Whether it’s a working mom who needs to vote absentee or a college student who’s away from home, we need to make sure that voting is accessible to all citizens and that everyone’s vote gets counted,” said Duggan. “That’s why I’m supporting Promote the Vote’s initiative to bring our voting system in line with 40 other states.”
Hunter said that having more access for voters through no reason absentee balloting “is overdue,” and Levin noted that our citizens deserve a system that’s secure.
“By making voting more accessible and secure, our democracy will better serve all Americans and our laws will better reflect the will of the people,” Levin said.
The State Board of canvassers on Feb. 13th approved Promote the Vote’s petition form to place on the November ballot an initiative to amend the state constitution. In addition to no reason absentee, the amendment would give military members more time to vote; let citizens register closer to Election Day; allow straight party voting, automatically register citizens when they do business at the Secretary of State’s office, protect a secret ballot and add audits for election results.
The Promote the Vote campaign is led by a broad coalition which includes the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan, the Michigan Municipal League for Public Policy and the state and Detroit branches of the NAACP. The coalition has to collect approximately 316,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.
“We’re grateful to have the support of these respected public servants for what we view as common sense reforms to our voting system,” said Judy Karandjeff, president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan.
For more information, go to www.promotethevotemi.com.
I’ve been thinking about Richard Austin, Michigan’s first African-American secretary of state – and the first in the United States to create a program that allowed people to register to vote when getting a driver’s license. I have been reflecting on Austin’s achievements recently because the ACLU of Michigan, with a coalition of diverse partners, recently launched a ballot initiative to amend the Michigan Constitution to bring much-needed reforms to our state’s voting system. I hope others will join me in this effort.
Read the full article here.
The Promote the Vote campaign to make voting more secure and accessible will host launch parties with hundreds of volunteers in two dozen cities across Michigan on Wednesday, in an effort to jumpstart its petition drive to get an initiative on the November ballot.
The February 21 get-togethers are being led by grassroots organizers and will teach participants how to collect petition signatures. Among the Promote the Vote parties taking place on Wednesday:
On February 13, the State Board of Canvassers approved Promote the Vote’s petition form, which seeks to amend the state Constitution to make voting more accessible. The amendment would:
The coalition will soon begin collecting approximately 316,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. The campaign is led by a broad coalition that includes the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan, the Michigan League for Public Policy and the state and Detroit branches of the NAACP.
The proposed reforms mirror election laws in 40 other states that allow for more time to either register or cast a ballot. For more information, go to https://promotethevotemi.com/.
The Promote the Vote coalition’s effort to make voting in Michigan more secure and accessible has moved one step closer to getting on the November ballot as the State Board of Canvassers today approved the petition form. The board’s approval means the coalition will soon begin collecting approximately 316,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.
“We need a voting system that works for everyone and today we are that much closer to making it happen,” said Kary Moss, ACLU of Michigan Executive Director and Promote the Vote coalition member. “From working parents who struggle with long voting lines, far-away polling places and no time off work to vote, to people who frequently move for jobs or military service, we need a system that allows every eligible Michigander to vote and to have their vote count.”
The Promote the Vote campaign is led by a broad coalition that includes the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan and the state and Detroit branches of the NAACP.
On Jan. 22, the group filed language with the Secretary of State’s Office for the initiative to amend the state Constitution to:
Angela Willson, a Grosse Pointe Park nurse anesthetist, is among the busy moms who struggle to get to the polls on Election Day. The single mother of four wants no-reason absentee voting to make casting a ballot more accessible to her and all working parents.
Of the extra time for military to get in their ballots, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 9 President Paul Palazzolo, noted: “The people who put their lives on the line to protect our democracy should have as much chance as anyone else to participate in our democracy.”
The proposed reforms mirror election laws in 40 other states that allow for more time to either register or cast a ballot.
For more information, go to https://promotethevotemi.com/.
Amendment would make ballot more secure, accessible.
Between two jobs and four kids, Angela Willson has little time to spare. So Willson figures she should be able have the option of voting absentee in elections---without giving a reason.
“Allowing all registered voters to choose to vote absentee would make my life a whole lot easier,” said Willson, a nurse anesthetist from Grosse Pointe Park. “And it would help our state line up with 37 others that allow all registered voters to cast their ballots on or before Election Day.”
Willson made her comments Monday at the kickoff for Promote the Vote campaign, an effort to place on the November ballot a constitutional amendment to provide comprehensive election reform for Michigan. Citing the need for an accessible and secure ballot for all, a coalition which includes the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan and the state and Detroit branches of the NAACP filed ballot language Monday with the Secretary of State’s office, organizers announced.
In addition to no reason absentee, the amendment would give military members more time to vote; let citizens register closer to Election Day; allow straight party voting, automatically register citizens when they do business at the Secretary of State’s office, protect a secret ballot and add audits for election results. The group called the reforms “common sense” designed to give more individuals a secure and accessible ballot.
“We’re all better off when more Americans---Republicans, Democrats and independents---participate in our democracy,” said Judy Karandjeff, president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. “Providing a system that works for all isn’t hard; it just common sense.”
The changes mirror reforms enacted in 40 states that make voting more accessible. Once the ballot language is approved, the coalition has to collect approximately 316,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.
“Putting voters first means making sure that our system is fair and has integrity,” said Ismael Ahmed, a longtime community activist. “Under this amendment, our votes would be protected because our elections could be audited.”
Updating the voter rolls and making the system more secure is good news to Michelle Mills, who had to cast a provisional ballot in 2017 because of inaccurate information at her polling site.
“We need a system that works for all,” she said.
For more information, go to https://promotethevotemi.com/.