{"id":8234,"date":"2024-09-17T16:31:13","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T20:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/chang\/?p=8234"},"modified":"2024-09-17T16:32:38","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T20:32:38","slug":"protect-ballot-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/chang\/2024\/09\/17\/protect-ballot-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Democrats Pass Michigan Voting Rights Act to Protect Ballot Access in State Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On National Voter Registration Day, policymakers pass legislation to safeguard rights of qualified voters and reduce barriers to election participation
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<\/i>LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 17, 2024) \u2013 Today, the Michigan Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation to establish the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MVRA), Senate Bills 401<\/a><\/u>–404<\/a><\/u>. The four-bill package is sponsored by Sens. Darrin Camilleri <\/b>(D-Trenton), Stephanie Chang<\/b> (D-Detroit), Erika Geiss<\/b> (D-Taylor) and Jeremy Moss <\/b>(D-Southfield) and was developed with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson<\/b> and numerous constituency organizations that protect voter accessibility.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur democracy is as strong as we make it, and on National Voter Registration Day today, Senate Democrats are acting to make democracy in Michigan that much stronger,\u201d said Sen. Camilleri<\/b>. \u201cBy pushing forth these critical protections in our elections process, the Michigan Voting Rights Act will ensure all our voters can confidently and safely exercise their rights at the ballot box. This is a big step forward for this historic legislation and we will keep working with the House and governor to advance these bills across the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passed on National Voter Registration Day, the MVRA will continue efforts to uphold the integrity of the state\u2019s election process, ensuring voters are both physically and legally protected and accommodated and local election officials comply with state law. This legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for further action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must ensure each election is the most accurate reflection of the will of Michigan voters. That\u2019s why we are working to place these protections in state law to allow every qualified Michigander to access their ballot free from discrimination, intimidation or any undue burden,\u201d Sen. Moss<\/b>, Chair of the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee. \u201cOur Senate majority is taking the critical steps to make certain that every vote is counted and every voice is heard through a safe and secure election process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building on the progress of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, the MVRA would set additional protections in place at the state level, shielding voters from attacks on exercising their right to vote that have been witnessed in this state and across the country. Specifically, the act is intended to provide avenues for voters of color and protected classes to defend their right to vote and access fair political representation. The MVRA would prohibit a local government or state agency from imposing any law, practice, policy, or method of election that would lead to a disparity in voter participation between a protected class and other members of the electorate or that would impair the ability of a protected class to participate in the political process.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichigan is a better, more representative state when more voters of all backgrounds, languages and abilities can access our democracy,\u201d said Sen. Chang<\/b>. \u201cWith over a third of Michiganders being English Language Learners, it\u2019s our duty as lawmakers to ensure that participation in our elections is as accessible as possible. My bill would enable voters, regardless of how well they can read or understand English, to be able to accurately cast their ballot by requiring more jurisdictions to provide reasonable language access in elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Michigan Voting Rights Act would strengthen voting rights in Michigan by doing four things:<\/p>\n

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  1. Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and\/or suppression and provide remedies for violations.<\/li>\n
  2. Create a nonpartisan and transparent voter database and institute to provide a center for research, training, and information on voting systems and election administration with easy-to-access information in one location.<\/li>\n
  3. Require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English to ensure that language minority groups in our state have an equal opportunity to participate in the voting process.<\/li>\n
  4. Enhance and clarify protections for voters with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance to vote.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    <\/div>\n
    \u201cEvery voter in our state should be able to safely and confidently exercise their fundamental right to vote. We all deserve access to a welcoming democratic process without fear of intimidation or discrimination, and with the passage of the MRVA, I\u2019m proud to say that we\u2019re one step closer to achieving that reality here in Michigan,\u201d said Sen. Geiss<\/b>. \u201cMy Democratic colleagues and I will continue working hard to ensure that every Michigan voter feels empowered to participate in our sacred democracy.\u201d<\/div>\n
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    ###<\/div>\n

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    On National Voter Registration Day, policymakers pass legislation to safeguard rights of qualified voters and reduce barriers to election participation LANSING, Mich. 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