Lawmakers consider state voting rights law – 9&10 News

Michigan could become the latest state to pass its own voting rights law. Testimony in support of the bill took place this week before a Senate committee.

Seven other states have adopted similar measures, covering nearly 30% of the U.S. population.

The legislative package’s main measure would prevent state agencies and local governments from establishing restrictions on voting access that would disproportionately impact minorities.

“Our job as policymakers and, frankly, as Americans, is to ensure that our elections are free, fair and accessible to all,” said Sen. Darrin Camilleri, a Trenton Democrat.

Leaders of the NAACP and voting rights groups spoke in favor of the bills, saying the legislation would help protect fair access to voting in Michigan.

“We must be very clear: The history of voting for Black and Brown people in the United States has been filled with trauma and terror,” said the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP. “The right to vote with access to the voting booth is essential and is often a question of life and death. Here in Michigan, we have the opportunity to stay ahead.

Other bills in the package would establish a state election database with information and data from past elections, allow elderly and disabled voters to request curbside voting and require municipalities to provide assistance linguistic if a certain number of non-English speakers live in the area.

The package also establishes several rights that have been limited in some conservative-led states, including allowing nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations to provide transportation to polling locations and allowing individuals to provide transportation. food or entertainment to those waiting in line outside a polling place.

Some lawmakers have expressed concern that the legislation seeks to address circumstances that are not yet widespread in the state.

“Essentially, we legislate because something might happen, not because it happened,” said Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, who also served as secretary of state. “Michigan has been called one of the best states in the country for years because we haven’t had a plethora of problems like this, mainly because we have more local clerks, more people who organize our elections than any other state in the country.

Supporters of the package say some federal laws should be codified into state law following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

All of the bills will be examined in the Senate committee in the coming weeks. The measures passed will not come into force until mid-2025.