Michigan Voters Approve ACLU-Backed Promote the Vote Proposal

Michigan voters approved Proposal Three – Promote the Vote – in today’s election. With more than 1.7 million voters casting ballots in favor of the initiative backed by the ACLU of Michigan and other non-partisan civic, labor, business, environmental and civil rights organizations.

"This is a great victory for everyone in the state of Michigan," said Kary Moss, president of Promote the Vote and the outgoing executive director of the ACLU of Michigan. "It’s a huge win for the thousands of people across our state who gathered signatures, knocked on doors and worked tirelessly to Promote the Vote; for the millions who voted YES today; and for every Michigan voter, all across the political spectrum. All of us now have our right to a safe, secure vote protected in our Constitution. This is what democracy looks like."

A clear majority of Michigan voters embraced a common-sense plan to modernize the state’s voting system, which could increase voter turnout in future elections by two to nine percent or 400,000 votes. Promote the Vote puts important voting rights guarantees in the Michigan Constitution, including:

• Registration to vote at any time, up to and including election day, with proof of residency;
• Access for all registered voters to an absentee ballot for any reason;
• The option for voters to choose a straight party ballot;
• Assurance that military service members and overseas voters get their ballots in time for their votes to count;
• Automatic registration of citizens to vote at the Secretary of State’s office unless the citizen declines;
• Audits of election results to ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections; and
• The right to vote a secret ballot.

"At a time when powerful forces are working overtime to make it harder for people to vote, Michigan voters have chosen a dramatically different path,” said Moss. “When more people participate and have a voice in our electoral system, we all win."