FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022
CONTACT: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com
Report: Proposal 2 does not change Michigan law regarding prisoners voting
Opponents spreading misinformation debunked by Bridge Magazine reporting
LANSING, Mich. – Bridge Magazine’s reporting has uncovered misinformation being spread by opponents to Proposal 2.
A mass text sent by a shadowy group, Protect MI Voter ID, to voters across Michigan made the false claim that Proposal 2 would allow incarcerated people serving sentences for serious crimes to vote, according to Bridge.
“Anyone who says Proposal 2 will allow incarcerated people to vote is lying, and these claims are being made by those who want to manipulate our elections and mislead voters,” said Micheal Davis, executive director of Promote the Vote. “We urge Michigan voters to look at the facts about Proposal 2 and join so many others in voting yes to enshrine our fundamental voting rights in Michigan’s Constitution.”
The Michigan Legislature has barred otherwise eligible voters who are incarcerated and serving a sentence from voting. Proposal 2 does nothing to change that, as the Michigan Supreme Court held in a bipartisan decision (5-2).
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.
###