Michigan Community Organizations' Letter to Michigan State Lawmakers and the House Elections Committee on Opposing House Joint Resolution B

To Michigan State Lawmakers and the House Elections Committee,

House Joint Resolution B is a direct threat to millions of Michiganders’ voting rights and we demand that our lawmakers oppose it.

Time and time again, Michiganders have made it clear that we believe in making voting accessible for all eligible voters—not creating unnecessary restrictions that keep people from voting. That’s why voters have overwhelmingly approved multiple ballot initiatives in the past decade that not only expanded voting rights, but also enshrined them in the state Constitution.

The requirements outlined in House Joint Resolution B would not only violate the spirit of those initiatives, but the letter of some of these Constitutional rights as well. 

The resolution is also a destructive, unworkable policy that would disenfranchise countless voters and be a logistical nightmare to implement—as has already been proven in the handful of other states that implemented similar policies.

Our elections already have strong checks and balances. This extreme and unnecessary proposal would be disastrous for new voters, who would be forced to track down additional legal documents they may not have access to, like passports; already-registered voters could also face these extra requirements. Working people who lead busy lives to provide for their families should not be forced to jump through additional hoops just to exercise their constitutional rights.

More than 5.8 million Michiganders don’t have passports, and about two million married women in Michigan have names that don’t match what’s on their birth certificates. These folks would be especially at risk of having their names removed from the voter rolls for no good reason.

Michigan voters have done our part to ensure our rights are protected and we need our lawmakers to do theirs. Oppose HJR B and stand up for voting rights. 

Signed,

ACLU of Michigan All Voting is Local Action APIA Vote-Michigan Clean Water Action  Charity for People Powered Democracy  Common Cause Michigan Detroit Disability Power Emgage Michigan Equality Michigan Fair Elections Center League of Women Voters of Michigan Michigan Association for Justice

Michigan League of Conservation Voters MI Poder Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan Rising Voices Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan Progress Michigan Promote the Vote Sierra Club Michigan Voters Not Politicians When You Vote - I Win