New Petition Drive Filed Today to Make It More Difficult to Vote in Michigan!

By MUUSJN on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

A Republican backed “Secure MI Vote” committee launched a petition drive today to tighten Michigan voter laws after a record turnout in the 2020 election. A broad coalition, including Voters Not Politicians and many other organizations, is launching a counter campaign to educate the public about this troubling effort to make it more difficult to vote.

Nancy Wang, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, was quoted as saying “A Democracy only works when the voice of the people can be heard. No matter what they say, the purpose of the GOP’s petition drive is to make it harder for some voters to vote, pure and simple…Now is the time for voters across the state to stand up for our freedom to vote and to oppose this package of voter suppression measures”.

Michigan voters turned out in historic numbers in the 2020 election, one of the state’s most secure elections. A six month Republican study, released on June 23rd, debunked the former President’s “big lie” that there was widespread voter fraud in Michigan’s 2020 election. No matter what we look like or where we come from, all Michiganders want our voices to be heard in our democracy and our voting rights protected.

The “Secure MI Vote” Committee is seeking state approval of its petition language, a first step toward bypassing the veto of Gretchen Whitmer. If the committee collects 340,047 signatures, it could be adopted by the legislature. However, these signature would have to be collected before the end of 2021 for this proposal to impact the 2022 election.


Click HERE for more information from the August 30th issue of Bridge magazine.According to this article, the initiative would:

  • REQUIRE IN-PERSON VOTERS TO PRESENT A PHOTO ID. Michigan law already includes a provision for a person without a photo ID to vote on election day if they attest who they are under penalty of law. However, under the proposed law, citizens would have to show a photo ID in person to their local clerk before their vote would be counted.
  • REQUIRE VOTERS APPLYING FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT TO INCLUDE THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSE OR STATE ID & THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Michigan does not have voter ID laws for absentee voting. However, voters are required to their signature on their absentee ballot application. Clerks compare these signatures to those already on file with the state. They are concerned this policy would make people more vulnerable to identity theft.
  • PROHIBIT THE MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE AND LOCAL CLERKS FROM SENDING ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO VOTERS WHO DO NOT REQUEST THEM. Secretary of State Benson mailed an absentee ballot to every Michigan voter in the 2020 election. This decision has been upheld by federal courts and likely contributed to a record turnout.
  • PROHIBIT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS FOR PUBLIC ELECTIONS. During the 2020 election, both Republican and Democratic officials from more than 465 Michigan cities, townships and counties applied for and received grants to pull off an election during the COVID pandemic. These grants helped cover the cost of absentee drop boxes, hiring more staff and implementing safety measures. There was no evidence that these grants were used for political influence. However, supporters of the “Big Lie” claimed these funds were directed only to Democratic cities.

This email is a red flare — a warning — that there are people who are attempting to suppress the vote in Michigan and to erode our democracy. More information will be shared about what we can do to fight back.

Category: News |