FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022
CONTACT: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com
Proposal 2 approved by Michigan voters
Michigan Constitution now protects fundamental right to vote for all eligible voters
Lansing, Mich. – Voters across Michigan overwhelmingly passed Proposal 2 which places the fundamental right to vote into Michigan’s Constitution while enhancing election security and promoting accessibility.
“I’d like to thank the millions of Michigan voters who said, ‘Yes’ to Proposal 2 which protects the fundamental right to vote while enhancing security and expanding the accessibility of Michigan’s future elections,” said Micheal Davis, executive director for Promote the Vote. “Michigan voters clearly support ensuring every voice is heard and every vote is counted in every election no matter what political party or candidate we support, where we live or what we look like. I would like to thank the more than 25 nonpartisan partner organizations that worked tirelessly to engage voters about Proposal 2 and lend their effort to the initiative’s passage.”
Promote the Vote 2022, the coalition behind Proposal 2, included dozens of organizations with hundreds of volunteers from all corners of Michigan.
“Today, Michigan voters passed Proposal 2 to protect and modernize our elections,” said Nancy Wang, executive director of Voters Not Politicians. “We’ve shown, time and again, that voters, no matter who we support, share a belief that every eligible voter should have convenient access to the ballot and have their vote counted. Voters Not Politicians volunteers talked to hundreds of thousands of voters to put Proposal 2 on the ballot and get it over the finish line because we are committed to making our government work for all Michiganders.”
“At the very heart of our freedom is the right to vote and Proposal 2 helps to ensure that every eligible voter in Michigan will have their vote counted without intimidation, harassment or interference, and we applaud the millions of voters who threw their support behind Proposal 2,” said Yvonne White, president of NAACP Michigan.
“For more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters of Michigan has advocated for every person’s right to participate in our democracy,” said Christina Schlitt, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. “That is why we were so proud to participate in this broad coalition and help pass Proposal 2.”
Key provisions of the Proposal 2 ballot initiative included:
- 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.
Paid for with regulated funds by Promote the Vote 2022, 600 W. St Joseph Street, Suite 3G, Lansing, MI 48933-2288.
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