The deadline to register to vote in Michigan’s November 6th election has closed but if a ballot proposal passes, Michiganders could register to vote on Election Day, expanding voting access and voter registration.
The deadline to register to vote in Michigan’s November 6th election has closed but if a ballot proposal passes, Michiganders could register to vote on Election Day, expanding voting access and voter registration.
As CMF has reported, Promote the Vote, proposal 3, is a key issue that will be on the November ballot.
CMF’s Board of Trustees voted last week to support this ballot proposal, at the recommendation of CMF’s Public Policy Committee, as it supports equitable civic engagement for all Michiganders. Rob Collier, CMF president and CEO, shared with CMF members at last week’s Annual Members Meeting that “Voters are charitable givers, and therefore we need all Michiganders to be voters.”
Promote the Vote states that voting “yes” on proposal 3 will “ensure every eligible Michigan citizen can vote and every vote is secure and counted.”
If passed by voters, this proposal would provide qualified Michigan voters with the following rights:
To vote on a secret ballot.
For military and overseas voters to be sent a ballot 45 days before an election.
To vote straight party on all partisan general election ballots.
To be automatically registered to vote when obtaining a driver’s license or a personal ID card (unless the person declines).
To register to vote by mail on or before the 15th day before an election. After that, citizens may register to vote in person with proof of residency up to and on election day.
To register to vote in person at any time with proof of residency.
To vote an absentee ballot, by mail or in person, without giving a reason.
To have election results audited to ensure the accuracy of elections.
Promote the Vote reports that in the past two elections Michigan voters endured the sixth and 12th longest lines in the country respectively. In addition, Michigan is one of only 14 states with a voter registration deadline 30 days or more prior to Election Day.
If passed, this ballot proposal would amend an article of our state’s constitution.
Otherwise, to expand voter access and registration would require a state constitutional convention to review our state constitution in its entirety which is unlikely considering the tremendous effort and burden on the state to execute such a review.
For instance, in Michigan a question as to whether we should hold a constitutional convention is only proposed to voters every 16 years. Therefore, the Promote the Vote ballot proposal (also known as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment) is the most practical and efficient way to make this change because it has been approved by the Board of State Canvassers and state legislature to put this issue before the voters.
Promote the Vote has a growing list of supporting organizations and partners including the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Education Association, NAACP, Police Officers Association of Michigan, Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee, League of Women Voters of Michigan and ACLU of Michigan, just to name a few.
Want more?
Check out Promote the Vote’s campaign.
View the Michigan ballot proposals.
