Michigan Needs to Pass the Voting Rights Act
Some federal and state lawmakers across the country, including in Michigan, are working overtime to pass anti-voter laws that target marginalized voters and diminish our democracy. Offering a LOUD reminder here – the right to vote is a fundamental right guaranteed to all citizens of the United States. While some people are trying to weaken our voting rights, others are dedicated to protecting them by passing state versions of the federal Voting Rights Act. Michigan should build on its previous efforts to protect our voting rights across the state by passing its own Voting Rights Act.
During the 2023-2024 legislative session, Michigan Senate Democrats introduced a Michigan version of the Voting Rights Act (MVRA). If you are anything like me and had to bear witness to 2024’s chaotic lame duck session, you know that the four-bill package unfortunately did not pass through the legislature. But just last week, Michigan Senate and House Democrats held a press conference to announce their reintroduction of the MVRA in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais that decimated the federal Voting Rights Act. Identical to the bill package that was previously introduced, there are four bills in each chamber – Senate Bills 961-964 and House Bills 5969-5972. The bills would:
Prohibit voter suppression and provide legal remedies for violations.
Create a nonpartisan, transparent voter institute/database that will provide research, training, and information on voting systems and election administration.
Require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English.
Enhance and clarify protections for voters with disabilities.
Michigan lawmakers announce the reintroduction of the Voting Rights Act.
With the rise in attacks on our voting rights, specifically against voters of color, the Michigan Voting Rights Act works to defend against these attempts and ensure voters’ rights.
Michigan is home to many diverse communities, and voters of color make a difference at the ballot box – that’s why anti-voter sentiment targets them specifically. According to APIA Vote’s Michigan 2026 AAPI Voter Demographics report, there are 261,000 eligible Asian American and Pacific Islander voters across the state. Among those voters, 60 percent speak a language other than English at home, and 22 percent are limited English proficient (LEP). These voters matter, and they deserve access to in-language election materials to support them at the polls. The MVRA will establish accessibility for not only thousands of Asian American voters, but all LEP voters.
On May 20, the MVRA Senate bills were voted out of the Senate Elections and Ethics committee, and they now go to the Senate floor for a full vote. Contact your state senator today and urge them to protect Michigan voters and support the Michigan Voting Rights Act. After that, make sure you are registered and ready to vote in Michigan’s upcoming August 4 Primary Election and the November 3 General Election.
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Brenda Maqdasi, Policy Coordinator at Rising Voices
