Democracy Drumbeat: Our May Recap

Authors Note 

As we close out May and enter the month of June, one word I want to focus on is collaboration. On May 12, the Democracy for All team joined our partners at the 2023 Alsame Youth Conference hosted at Ferris State University.

I had the pleasure of serving as the 2023 Keynote Address and speaking to our leaders of tomorrow to get ready to register, prepare, and go out and vote! 

Without collaboration in this space, this work would not be possible. Educating youth and partnering with programs to emphasize the importance of voting and our democracy is so critical. 

Our May Democracy Recap 

Democracy Legislation Update

If you haven’t seen, May was a busy time in Lansing. We saw a number of election-related bills introduced and passed in the House and Senate. These bills to implement Proposal 2 and the new election laws are progressing. Here’s your legislation update: 

Budget Related Bills

House Bill 4292 

This bill passed in the House. It would provide $600,000 for mailing and postage costs and $447,500 to increase staff to fight election fraud. There is $19,713,600 included for the implementation of Proposals 1 and 2 of 2022. 

Senate Bill 189 

This bill passed in the Senate. Similar to HB 4929, this bill outlines $600,000 for mailing and postage costs and $447,500 to get more staff to fight election fraud. Additionally, there is $4,713,700 proposed for Proposals 1 and 2 of 2022. 

Voting Rights Related Bills

House Bill 4534

HB 4534 would require the Michigan Department of Corrections to provide election information to prisoners once they are released. Information can include: their eligibility to vote upon their release, how to register to vote, how to vote by absentee ballot, and the date of the next election.

Senate Bill 339

This bill was introduced to outline the new enhanced tracking system for voters to track their absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications. 

House Bill 4568

HB 4568 would get rid of the ban on paid rides to bring voters to the polls during elections. 

House Bill 4567

This bill would get rid of the requirement that the ballots of voters who prove their identity via affidavit when obtaining an absentee ballot in person must be processed as challenged.

House Bill 4569 

HB 4569 would allow otherwise eligible Michiganders to preregister to vote starting at 16 years of age. It would also require public education and outreach campaigns for public high school students to know about and take advantage of this.

House Bill 4570

This bill would increase the accessibility of the online application for an absentee ballot by letting voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID upload a physical signature.

House Bill 4594

HB 4594 is similar to Senate Bill 339 – it also introduces a new enhanced tracking system for voters to track their absentee ballots and applications. 

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