Category: Uncategorized
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Local Governments Oppose Documentary Proof of Citizenship Ballot Proposal
Detroit, Washtenaw County, and Ypsilanti have now passed resolutions opposing the proposed ballot initiative that would amend the Michigan Constitution to require documentary proof of citizenship to register and vote. On February 17, the Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposal, which would require voters to provide documents such as a birth…
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Thank You to Michigan Voices for Partner of the Year Award
We are excited to share that Voting Access for All Coalition has been selected as the recipient of the Partner of the Year Award from Michigan Voices as part of their 20th anniversary celebration. The award recognizes contributions, collaborative efforts, and overall impact within the community. We are truly honored and deeply grateful for the…
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Reading between the lines of the MDOC Vocational and Programming Report
The Michigan Department of Corrections released their most recent Academic and Vocational Summary Report last week. Within the report there are elements to celebrate, areas of concern, and missing data that would help drive further programming improvements. MDOC data show that large numbers of people are on waiting lists for academic programming (often GED or…
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Immigration Hoops: Just Follow the Rules
As many of us know, just following the rules isn’t always as simple as it sounds. For those of us caught in nightmarish bureaucratic systems—parole, probation, courts, or immigration—the rules can be nearly impossible to figure out. Some Americans think that immigrants should just follow the rules. If they can’t do that, they’re “illegal” and…
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VAAC Friday Community Meeting on Feb 13th: Voting, Truth, and AI with University of Michigan Guests
VAAC’s next Friday Community Meeting will focus on how artificial intelligence is shaping elections, information, and voter trust. We’ll be joined by guests from the University of Michigan’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy program, who will present The Vote, The Truth, and AI: How to Spot AI Election Threats, a community zine developed in collaboration…
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Making An Impact in an Election Year with VAAC & MI-CEMIThe 2026 elections will shape the policies, budgets, and systems that determine whether mass incarceration continues to expand or whether our communities finally see meaningful change. For communities most impacted by incarceration, disengagement is not an option. Decisions made in this cycle will affect sentencing laws, parole and probation practices, jail and prison conditions, voting…
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Virtual Day of Action for Documentary Proof Of Citizenship (DPOC) Community Storytelling
As our nonpartisan, pro-democracy coalition continues to organize to raise awareness about the red tape voter suppression ballot proposal, we want to invite individuals and organizations to participate in a virtual day of action on Thursday, February 19th. Throughout the last several months, nonpartisan, pro-democracy organizations have been hosting “Know Before You Sign” and “Decline…
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Vital Documents Bills Move Forward in the Legislature
VAAC is closely tracking a package of Michigan House bills focused on access to vital identification documents for people leaving prison. For communities impacted by incarceration, lack of ID is often one of the first and most immediate barriers people face upon release. Without a driver license or state ID, it can be difficult or…
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Action Alert: Protect Michigan from ICE abuses
On Thursday the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety is scheduled to vote on three bills to protect Michiganders against some of the most flagrant abuses by ICE: Protect sensitive locations: Senate Bill 508 would designate certain places like courthouses and other “sensitive locations” as immigration-enforcement-free zones. Michigan residents should not have…
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Election Year Engagement: MI-CEMI General Member Convening
2026 will be a major election year in Michigan. While we may all dread the onslaught of political ads, the election year can be a powerful opportunity to go beyond voting by educating candidates and voters and to build power to end mass incarceration. Learn how you can seize this opportunity to shape the debate…