Proposals that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote continue to advance at both the state and federal level.
In practice, these proposals would require people to provide documents like passports or birth certificates in order to register or participate, even though many eligible voters do not have easy access to those documents.
At the same time, we are seeing broader efforts to interfere with election administration and undermine confidence in the people responsible for carrying out elections. Recent actions targeting election workers in places like Fulton County, Georgia reflect how attacks on voting access are also affecting the people who help elections function safely and smoothly. Michigan stands with the election workers in Fulton County and election workers around the country.
The #HandsOffMIVote Open Letter is a public statement from Michigan voters, community members, and organizations opposing policies that create more restrictions, more barriers, and more interference with access to voting.
Add your name and stand with Michigan voters defending access to voting, supporting election workers, and pushing back against efforts to restrict participation.
HandsOffMIVote Open Letter
| Voting should be simple. We are speaking up to keep it that way. We are voters in Michigan. We are paying attention. And we are raising our voices because there are growing efforts to make voting more complicated for everyday people. 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. 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. |
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