Lansing — Throughout the arc of our nation’s history, many have worked—and many have died—to ensure that all Americans can cast a ballot and have their vote counted. Today, that hard-won progress and right is under assault.
Michigan voters have already spoken on our voting laws. In 2018, 67% of our state’s voters passed Proposal 3, the most comprehensive expansion of voting rights in the state’s history. And now the MIGOP is wasting taxpayer money and time to try to circumvent the will of the people.
In the last election, more people voted than ever before but since then, more than 380 bills have been introduced across the country, including 39 bills right here in Michigan, that would make it harder for all of us to vote. These bills seek to restrict the options that make voting more convenient and accessible, including early voting and voting by mail, and add new, burdensome voter ID requirements for in-person and mail voting. The MDP will not stand by when confronted with any effort that keeps Michiganders from voting.
Lavora Barnes, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party released the following statement on behalf of the passage of the Michigan voter suppression bills out of the Senate Elections Committee. The bills have been referred to the full Senate for a vote
“It is disingenuous and dangerous to the foundation of America to hear our elected officials and their constituents continually testifying that voting should be treated and managed like a privilege as opposed to a right. Wars have been fought, lives have been lost, and people’s lives have been destroyed all in the fight for the RIGHT for all of us to vote, regardless of race, sex, or gender. The GOP attack on voting rights is just that – an attack. And it isn’t just happening in Michigan. This is a targeted attempt across the country to disenfranchise Democratic voters all because their Presidential candidate of choice didn’t win in 2020.
It is painfully obvious that the Republicans cannot beat us at the ballot box, and instead are attempting a shameful approach with the goal of winning while disenfranchising millions of voters that have every right to cast a ballot.”
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