FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Sept. 9, 2022
CONTACT: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com
Michigan voters to decide fundamental voting rights through Proposal 2 on November ballot
Board of State Canvassers finally confirms Promote the Vote 2022 submitted sufficient number of signatures from registered voters after court order
LANSING, Mich. – Promote the Vote 2022 released the following statement today after the Board of State Canvassers voted to place the initiative – now known as Proposal 2 – on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The Michigan Supreme Court, in a bipartisan decision 5-2, ordered the board to act following a deadlock last week. The decision concluded the number of verified signatures exceeded the required 425,059 signatures from registered Michigan voters and complied with all legal requirements to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
“We applaud the board for finally placing Proposal 2 on the ballot because it will help ensure every voice is heard and every vote is counted in every election no matter where we live, what we look like, or what political candidate we support,” said Khalilah Spencer, board president for Promote the Vote 2022. “Proposal 2 would recognize the fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct and require that military or overseas ballots be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within six days of the election. It will make elections more secure and more accessible especially for working parents, elderly voters, people with disabilities and people living in rural communities by expanding access to early voting and absentee voting. Now that Proposal 2 is on the ballot, we will be encouraging Michigan voters to vote yes on 2.”
Proposal 2 would:
- Recognize the fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct;
- Require military or overseas ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day;
- Continue current law that provides voters the right to verify identity with photo ID or signed statement;
- Provide the voter right to a single application to vote absentee in all elections;
- Require state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes, and postage for absentee applications and ballots;
- Provide that only election officials may conduct post-election audits;
- Require nine days of early in-person voting;
- Allow donations to fund election administration, which must be disclosed;
- Require canvass boards to certify election results based only on the official records of votes cast.
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