Promote the Vote Calls for House Election Committee to Focus on Access, Not Obstacles, For Michigan Voters

View a PDF of the press release here.

Lansing, Mich. (Feb. 5, 2025) - The House Election Integrity Committee now has a full complement of members and is expected to begin hearings soon on election-related measures. As the committee takes up its work for this session, Promote the Vote urges lawmakers to prioritize policies that strengthen voter access and election security rather than imposing restrictions that make it harder for eligible voters to participate in our democracy. In response, Promote the Vote Policy and Government Affairs Director Melanie Macey issued the following statement:

Promote the Vote congratulates Representative Rachelle Smit on her appointment as Chair of the House Election Integrity Committee. Rep. Smit’s seven years as a township clerk provide her with unique insight into the inner workings of Michigan’s election system, and we look forward to working together with Rep. Smit and the rest of the committee to ensure that our elections remain secure and accessible.

Part of ensuring that our elections remain secure and accessible is ensuring that all eligible Michiganders can cast a ballot free from intimidation or interference. House Joint Resolution B, introduced at the end of January, would create new and burdensome barriers to participation. This resolution is a misguided attempt to limit who can participate in our elections under the guise of addressing a problem that does not exist. Michigan’s elections are already secure and transparent, and we should not join states like Kansas and Arizona who have tried to implement similar voting-related measures and have disenfranchised tens of thousands of eligible American voters in the process.

We need our leaders in state government to prioritize inclusive, equitable elections that offer true representation, not to waste time on proposals erecting burdensome and unnecessary barriers to voting. At the end of last year, legislators failed to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act, a bill package that would have expanded language access and improved accessibility for voters with disabilities. This was a missed opportunity to support the 25% of Michigan’s population who live with disabilities and the countless individuals who would benefit from translated ballots and election materials. Lawmakers should be working to meet the real needs of Michigan voters and strengthen access to the ballot for all. 

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Promote the Vote is a coalition of partner organizations committed to ensuring that Michigan’s voting system works for all. These partner organizations share a rich history and deep investment in preserving and advancing the rights and protections of marginalized communities and Michigan voters.