Category: In The News
-
Vote Early, Vote Informed: What You Need to Know for Michigan’s August 5 Primary
Early voting starts June 26—make your plan now! At Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC), we believe in breaking down barriers to the ballot and making sure every eligible voter knows their rights. The August 5, 2025 Primary Election is coming up fast, and you don’t have to wait until Election Day to cast your…
-
A Massive ICE Detention Center Just Opened in Michigan. Here’s Why That Matters for All of Us.
This week, the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, officially reopened—not as a prison, but as one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, with 1,800 beds. This is a huge expansion of Michigan’s immigration detention system, and it’s happening in a facility run by GEO Group—a private prison corporation with a…
-
Honor our History and Demand a Future Rooted in Equity and Justice
Juneteenth marks a delayed freedom and a reminder that access, dignity, and full participation are still not guaranteed for many. Building power through voting is one way we honor our history and demand a future rooted in equity and justice. The post Honor our History and Demand a Future Rooted in Equity and Justice appeared first on…
-
Pride Is Powerful. So Is Your Vote.
This Pride Month, we honor the LGBTQIA+ community and remind each other: voting is a form of showing up. Pride is more than a celebration — it’s a declaration of strength, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice. At Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC), we recognize the deep connections between LGBTQIA+ rights and the…
-
VAAC at A Brighter Way’s 2025 Community Resource Fair
VAAC showed up at the A Brighter Way’s 2025 Community Resource Fair in Ypsilanti! This inspirational event brought together community members, advocates, and organizations dedicated to supporting people impacted by the legal system. We had a powerful day of connection—sharing resources, building relationships, and standing alongside others doing meaningful work. Huge respect to A Brighter…
-
Power in Pontiac: A Night of Civic Engagement at the Mayoral Forum
Every candidate. Every chair filled. Every voice valued. This is what democracy looks like when the community leads. On May 22, 2025, Voting Access for All Coalition proudly co-hosted a nonpartisan Mayoral Forum in Pontiac—and the energy was electric. Every single candidate showed up. So did the community, packing the room wall to wall with…
-
Eliminating Grace Periods: A New Attack on Mail Voting
Voting rights are under attack again—this time, through the rollback of mail-in ballot grace periods. Lawmakers in several states are working quickly to eliminate grace periods for mail-in ballots—policies that have long ensured voters who mail their ballots on time still have their votes counted if delivery is delayed. Kansas has already passed a law…
-
Centering Impacted Voices at the Detroit Mayoral Forum
Executive Director Angela Davenport joins community voices demanding accountability, equity, and inclusion. Last night in Detroit, voters came together to engage directly with the candidates hoping to lead the city. From housing and clean water to education, air quality, public safety, and how our leaders plan to serve those most impacted by the legal system—the…
-
Secretary Benson Sounds the Alarm on Election Access
Last Friday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made a powerful public statement on the recently introduced Michigan Election Security Act—a proposal that could significantly impact voter access across the state. Her message was clear: legislation marketed as “security” must not be allowed to become a weapon for disenfranchisement. At Voting Access for All Coalition…
-
Victory! HJR B Did Not Pass — But the Fight Isn’t Over
Lawmakers rejected a resolution that would have created new barriers to voting — but similar efforts are on the horizon. Stay alert. UPDATE (May 1, 2025):We’re celebrating a win for voting rights! House Joint Resolution B (HJR B) did NOT pass in the Michigan House of Representatives. Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC) is grateful…