Five Republican State Senators Confused About Constitutional Voting Rights

Contact: Erin Lodes, erin@promotethevotemi.com

New voter suppression legislation shows a disturbing desire to eliminate an accessible, secure method of voting trusted by millions of Michiganders and a fundamental misunderstanding of Michigan’s laws

Lansing, MI - Earlier this week, five Republican Michigan Senators introduced a bill aiming to strip countless eligible Michiganders of the ability to vote absentee. In the November 2024 General Election, nearly forty percent of all Michigan voters—2.2 million people—voted via this secure, accessible method. If passed, this bill would make voting more difficult for the millions of Michiganders who depend on absentee voting to ensure their voice is heard.

“The attacks on our fundamental right to vote at both the state and federal level are driven by fear-mongering and partisan lies,” said Micheal Davis, Jr., executive director of Promote the Vote Advocates. “Not only does this breathtaking overreach threaten to disenfranchise countless eligible Michiganders, but it also shows a fundamental lack of understanding of Michigan’s laws. These Senators seem shockingly unaware that the legislature can’t simply pass a law that would override Michigan’s constitution.”

Absentee voting became extremely popular after voters overwhelmingly passed Promote the Vote’s Proposal 3 of 2018, which gave all eligible Michigan voters the Constitutional right to vote absentee without a reason.

“It is disappointing that five state senators are elevating such fear-mongering and lies over the voting rights of their constituents,” continued Davis, Jr. “We’re grateful this misguided bill has zero chance of passing, and we invite these lawmakers to join us to discuss real, attainable ways to continue to improve and modernize Michigan’s election system, while ensuring that it remains both secure and accessible.”

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