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LANSING, Mich. — <\/strong><\/span><\/b>Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the chairs of both the Senate and House elections committees, and numerous other lawmakers today announced legislative plans to protect the people who protect democracy \u2013 the thousands of election workers and millions of voters in Michigan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have made great strides expanding the voice and protecting the vote of every Michigan citizen over these last few years, but we have more work to do,\u201d said Secretary Benson<\/strong>. \u201cWe are in an era of misinformation with voters being lied to about their right to vote and election workers subject to a near constant barrage of threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs. We must do more to protect the people who protect democracy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n State Senator Jeremy Moss and State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, the chairs of the Senate and House elections committees respectively, joined Benson in speaking on the need for stronger legislation, as did State Senator Sylvia Santana, and State Representatives Kara Hope and Amos O\u2019Neal. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The group said they would work to:<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Benson announced that she is launching an elections policy working group to suggest, review, and provide feedback on election policies on a rolling basis. The group will be comprised of nonpartisan pro-democracy organizations; Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan clerks; the chairs of both legislative elections committees; and representatives from the Executive Office of the Governor.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMichigan has had some of the most highly scrutinized elections in the country over the last several cycles and no matter how you measure the metrics, our system has proven to be secure and our election results accurate,%22 said Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield)<\/strong>. %22This session we intend to build on the successes of our electoral system that have been administered dutifully by Secretary Benson and the dedicated election officials across Michigan. Our democracy works. That is due to Michigan voters, who have shown up in record numbers to make their voices heard and ensure that our state government is an adequate reflection of their will. As Chairman of the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee, I\u2019m looking forward to partnering with Secretary Benson to ushering through a pro-voter agenda.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to working with Secretary Benson and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that every Michigander is empowered to share their voice at the ballot box, our election workers can do their jobs without fear of threat, harassment, or intimidation, and our clerks have the resources they need to run secure, fair, efficient, and transparent elections,\u201d said Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing)<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOver the last few years in particular, election workers have been subjected to endless threats and intimidation when they\u2019re just trying to carry out free and fair elections,\u201d said Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton),<\/strong> who previously introduced legislation to make Election Day a state holiday and has fought to make elections fairer and safer in Michigan. \u201cAs legislators, we have a duty to do everything in our power to safeguard the right to vote, and I\u2019m looking forward to working with this group of talented people to make the changes we need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n %22Michigan’s voters have very clearly declared that they want to increase access to voting,%22 said Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)<\/strong>. %22I am looking forward to working collaboratively to advance the freedom to vote and making sure everyone has access.%22<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo one should be pressured by their elected leaders to break the law and especially not the public servants who administer our elections,%22 said Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia)<\/strong>. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to explicitly prohibit and penalize such abhorrent abuses of power.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cElection workers are our family members and neighbors in all our communities who volunteer their time to serve our democracy,\u201d said Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit)<\/strong>. \u201cThe work they do is critical to our democracy and we need to protect them so they can continue to serve us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn an era of increased misinformation, we must do everything we can to protect the people of our state from falling for election conspiracies,\u201d said Rep. Tyrone Carter D-Detroit)<\/strong>. \u201cThe belief in these conspiracies has resulted in a number of threats and harassment toward our election workers. As a result of these threats, many experienced clerks across the country decided to leave their positions. This has to stop. I support legislation that will protect our election workers and minimize the spread of misinformation.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to working alongside my colleagues to make lasting improvements to our elections,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Churches (D-Wyandotte)<\/strong>. \u201cI know that we are ready to get to work serving on the House Committee on Elections. Ensuring that we can expand voter\u2019s rights, protect democracy, and amplify the voices of voters across Michigan must remain a priority for legislators in our state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFree and fair elections can\u2019t happen without the workers and officials who run them. And democracy can\u2019t happen without elections,\u201d said Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt)<\/strong>. \u201cSo we owe it to these guardians of democracy to ensure they can do their work free of threats, intimidation, or worse. That\u2019s what the legislation I introduced is meant to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am proud of the work I\u2019ve done as a member of the House elections committee and I look forward to continuing that work in the majority,\u201d said Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth)<\/strong>. \u201cSafe and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and I am happy to continue to work with Secretary Benson on reforms to protect the right to vote and ensure fair, transparent, and accessible elections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt’s time for us to pass legislation that protects election workers and voters in Michigan,\u201d said Rep. Amos O\u2019Neal (D-Saginaw).<\/strong> \u201dLet\u2019s invest in keeping our election process secure, transparent and healthy. With new legislation, we can do just that. We can protect the democratic process and deter destructive behavior through more robust penalties \u2014 it is crucial for our election process to be safeguarded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n # # #<\/span><\/p>\n ” content_phone=”<\/p>\n LANSING, Mich. — <\/strong><\/span><\/b>Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the chairs of both the Senate and House elections committees, and numerous other lawmakers today announced legislative plans to protect the people who protect democracy \u2013 the thousands of election workers and millions of voters in Michigan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have made great strides expanding the voice and protecting the vote of every Michigan citizen over these last few years, but we have more work to do,\u201d said Secretary Benson<\/strong>. \u201cWe are in an era of misinformation with voters being lied to about their right to vote and election workers subject to a near constant barrage of threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs. We must do more to protect the people who protect democracy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n State Senator Jeremy Moss and State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, the chairs of the Senate and House elections committees respectively, joined Benson in speaking on the need for stronger legislation, as did State Senator Sylvia Santana, and State Representatives Kara Hope and Amos O\u2019Neal. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The group said they would work to:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Benson announced that she is launching an elections policy working group to suggest, review, and provide feedback on election policies on a rolling basis. The group will be comprised of nonpartisan pro-democracy organizations; Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan clerks; the chairs of both legislative elections committees; and representatives from the Executive Office of the Governor.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMichigan has had some of the most highly scrutinized elections in the country over the last several cycles and no matter how you measure the metrics, our system has proven to be secure and our election results accurate,%22 said Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield)<\/strong>. %22This session we intend to build on the successes of our electoral system that have been administered dutifully by Secretary Benson and the dedicated election officials across Michigan. Our democracy works. That is due to Michigan voters, who have shown up in record numbers to make their voices heard and ensure that our state government is an adequate reflection of their will. As Chairman of the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee, I\u2019m looking forward to partnering with Secretary Benson to ushering through a pro-voter agenda.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to working with Secretary Benson and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that every Michigander is empowered to share their voice at the ballot box, our election workers can do their jobs without fear of threat, harassment, or intimidation, and our clerks have the resources they need to run secure, fair, efficient, and transparent elections,\u201d said Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing)<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOver the last few years in particular, election workers have been subjected to endless threats and intimidation when they\u2019re just trying to carry out free and fair elections,\u201d said Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton),<\/strong> who previously introduced legislation to make Election Day a state holiday and has fought to make elections fairer and safer in Michigan. \u201cAs legislators, we have a duty to do everything in our power to safeguard the right to vote, and I\u2019m looking forward to working with this group of talented people to make the changes we need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n %22Michigan’s voters have very clearly declared that they want to increase access to voting,%22 said Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)<\/strong>. %22I am looking forward to working collaboratively to advance the freedom to vote and making sure everyone has access.%22<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo one should be pressured by their elected leaders to break the law and especially not the public servants who administer our elections,%22 said Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia)<\/strong>. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to explicitly prohibit and penalize such abhorrent abuses of power.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cElection workers are our family members and neighbors in all our communities who volunteer their time to serve our democracy,\u201d said Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit)<\/strong>. \u201cThe work they do is critical to our democracy and we need to protect them so they can continue to serve us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn an era of increased misinformation, we must do everything we can to protect the people of our state from falling for election conspiracies,\u201d said Rep. Tyrone Carter D-Detroit)<\/strong>. \u201cThe belief in these conspiracies has resulted in a number of threats and harassment toward our election workers. As a result of these threats, many experienced clerks across the country decided to leave their positions. This has to stop. I support legislation that will protect our election workers and minimize the spread of misinformation.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to working alongside my colleagues to make lasting improvements to our elections,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Churches (D-Wyandotte)<\/strong>. \u201cI know that we are ready to get to work serving on the House Committee on Elections. Ensuring that we can expand voter\u2019s rights, protect democracy, and amplify the voices of voters across Michigan must remain a priority for legislators in our state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFree and fair elections can\u2019t happen without the workers and officials who run them. And democracy can\u2019t happen without elections,\u201d said Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt)<\/strong>. \u201cSo we owe it to these guardians of democracy to ensure they can do their work free of threats, intimidation, or worse. That\u2019s what the legislation I introduced is meant to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am proud of the work I\u2019ve done as a member of the House elections committee and I look forward to continuing that work in the majority,\u201d said Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth)<\/strong>. \u201cSafe and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and I am happy to continue to work with Secretary Benson on reforms to protect the right to vote and ensure fair, transparent, and accessible elections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt’s time for us to pass legislation that protects election workers and voters in Michigan,\u201d said Rep. Amos O\u2019Neal (D-Saginaw).<\/strong> \u201dLet\u2019s invest in keeping our election process secure, transparent and healthy. With new legislation, we can do just that. We can protect the democratic process and deter destructive behavior through more robust penalties \u2014 it is crucial for our election process to be safeguarded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n # # #<\/span><\/p>\n ” content_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n LANSING, Mich. —\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/b>Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the chairs of both the Senate and House elections committees, and numerous other lawmakers today announced legislative plans to protect the people who protect democracy \u2013 the thousands of election workers and millions of voters in Michigan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have made great strides expanding the voice and protecting the vote of every Michigan citizen over these last few years, but we have more work to do,\u201d said\u00a0Secretary Benson<\/strong>. \u201cWe are in an era of misinformation with voters being lied to about their right to vote and election workers subject to a near constant barrage of threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs. We must do more to protect the people who protect democracy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n State Senator Jeremy Moss and State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, the chairs of the Senate and House elections committees respectively, joined Benson in speaking on the need for stronger legislation, as did State Senator Sylvia Santana, and State Representatives Kara Hope and Amos O\u2019Neal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The group said they would work to:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Benson announced that she is launching an elections policy working group to suggest, review, and provide feedback on election policies on a rolling basis. The group will be comprised of nonpartisan pro-democracy organizations; Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan clerks; the chairs of both legislative elections committees; and representatives from the Executive Office of the Governor.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMichigan has had some of the most highly scrutinized elections in the country over the last several cycles and no matter how you measure the metrics, our system has proven to be secure and our election results accurate,” said\u00a0Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield)<\/strong>. “This session we intend to build on the successes of our electoral system that have been administered dutifully by Secretary Benson and the dedicated election officials across Michigan.\u00a0Our democracy works. That is due to Michigan voters, who have shown up in record numbers to make their voices heard and ensure that our state government is an adequate reflection of their will. As Chairman of the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee,\u00a0I\u2019m looking forward to partnering with Secretary Benson to ushering through a pro-voter agenda.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to working with Secretary Benson and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that every Michigander is empowered to share their voice at the ballot box, our election workers can do their jobs without fear of threat, harassment, or intimidation, and our clerks have the resources they need to run secure, fair, efficient, and transparent elections,\u201d said\u00a0Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing)<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOver the last few years in particular, election workers have been subjected to endless threats and intimidation when they\u2019re just trying to carry out free and fair elections,\u201d said\u00a0Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton),<\/strong>\u00a0who previously introduced legislation to make Election Day a state holiday and has fought to make elections fairer and safer in Michigan. \u201cAs legislators, we have a duty to do everything in our power to safeguard the right to vote, and I\u2019m looking forward to working with this group of talented people to make the changes we need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Michigan’s voters have very clearly declared that they want to increase access to voting,” said\u00a0Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)<\/strong>. “I am looking forward to working collaboratively to advance the freedom to vote and making sure everyone has access.”<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo one should be pressured by their elected leaders to break the law and especially not the public servants who administer our elections,” said\u00a0Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia)<\/strong>. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to explicitly prohibit and penalize such abhorrent abuses of power.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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