Benson, nonpartisan groups
denounce bills to roll back voting rights
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the nonpartisan Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, Michigan League of Women Voters and the Promote the Vote Coalition issued the following statements in response to the announcement of bills to roll back the voting rights of Michigan citizens:
Statement of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson:
“Many of the bills in this package will make it harder for citizens to vote. Rather than introducing bills based on disproven lies and copied from other states, lawmakers should be codifying what worked in 2020. Michigan voters demonstrated they want our elections to be accessible in 2018 when they enshrined new voting rights in our state constitution, and again in 2020 when millions exercised those new rights. Everything we do should be based on protecting the right to vote, and too many of these bills would do the opposite.”
Statement of Chris Swope, President of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks:
“This package of bills contains some of the most egregious voter suppression ideas Michigan has seen. With nearly 30 percent of Michiganders not participating, we need to focus on expanding ballot access, not attempts to disenfranchise certain voters.”
Statement of Christina Schlitt, President of the League of Women Voters of Michigan:
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and something that state lawmakers should be working to protect instead of attack. The bills that have been announced today are antithetical to fair elections and violate the clear will of Michigan voters who participated in record numbers in 2020.”
Statement of Sharon Dolente, Promote the Vote Coalition:
"Record turnout isn't a reason to make it harder for some or impossible for others to vote. Michigan needs to look forward and continue creating a voting system that works for all of us."
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