Hands Off MI Vote Open Letter: Add Your Name

Across the country and here in Michigan, there are efforts to make voting more complicated by adding more paperwork, more confusion, and more barriers for people who are already eligible to vote.

These kinds of changes may sound small, but for many people, they create real barriers.

They can make it harder to stay registered.
Harder to navigate the process.
Harder to cast a ballot.

And for many people, they can be the difference between voting and being shut out.

Michigan voters have already made it clear: we believe in making voting more accessible, not less. We have expanded early voting, same day registration, and absentee access.

Now, that progress is at risk.

We are concerned about multiple efforts, both statewide and nationwide, that would roll back that progress by adding unnecessary requirements and confusion.

For many people, especially those who have moved, changed their name, lost documents, or do not have easy access to records, these added steps are not simple. They are barriers.

They can be the difference between voting and not voting.

#HandsOffMIVote is a commitment to protecting access to voting and pushing back against efforts to make it harder for eligible voters to participate.

As Michiganders, we are speaking up about proposals that would add unnecessary paperwork and red tape for voters who are already eligible to vote.

These “show your papers” policies could make it harder for people to stay registered and cast their ballot.

Michigan voters have already made it easier to vote by expanding access to absentee voting, same-day registration, and early voting. Now, there are efforts that could roll back that progress by creating confusion and new barriers.

This moment calls on all of us, voters, community members, and leaders to stand together and protect our right to vote for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Hands Off Our Vote.

We are calling on leaders at every level to protect access to voting and ensure that the process remains fair, accessible, and easy to navigate, which means:

1. Opposing efforts like HB 4765 and similar proposals that would create new barriers to voting by requiring additional paperwork to prove eligibility.
2. Opposing attempts to interfere with or limit access to voting in our state and local elections.
3. Supporting the local election officials who help ensure our elections run safely and smoothly, and to advocate for the resources they need.