LANSING, Mich. – Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson testified before the Michigan House Committee on Elections in support of the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MVRA), which will expand voting rights, strengthen democracy in our state, and make good on the promise of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution– that no citizen can be denied the right to vote. 

"We need look no further than the consistent weakening of federal voting protections over the last several decades and the impact that has had in other states nationwide to realize that it is up to states in this moment to step up and ensure the basic right to freely elect our representatives and hold them accountable remains intact for every citizen in our country and in our state,” Secretary Benson said.

“We have made a lot of important advances in Michigan these last few years. But it was only three years ago that nearly 40 laws were proposed in this very Legislature that would have made voting more confusing and challenging in our state. That potential for us to move backwards is always there.” 

“What this law would do is help protect against those types of tactics and also remind us that our work to help maintain and protect all voters’ access to the ballot box is not a struggle of the past,” said Benson. “It is a living and constant responsibility that we all have, every day, especially in these positions.” 

In June 2023, Secretary Benson announced the introduction of the MVRA, which builds on the federal Voting Rights Act while adding new protections at the state level. Senate Bills 401-404 were sponsored by Sens. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), and Erika Geiss (D-Taylor).

Specifically, the MVRA will: 

• Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression. 

• Require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English to ensure that language minority citizens in Michigan have an equal opportunity to participate in the voting process. 

• Enhance and clarify protections for voters with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance to vote. 

“To honor those who’ve come before us and the great successes that we’ve seen to strengthen our democracy in this great state, I hope you join us in standing up for democracy and supporting the Michigan Voting Rights Act so we can continue to ensure Michigan is leading the nation in a free, accessible democracy for all,” Benson said.

Watch the Secretary’s full testimony online.