Another statewide petition initiative that could undermine voting access for millions of Michiganders has been given the greenlight to begin collecting signatures. If passed, this initiative would require proof of citizenship for EVERYONE who is ALREADY registered to vote, and those who plan to register. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers cleared the way for the so-called “Americans for Citizen Voting - Michigan” campaign to begin circulating petitions to put the initiative on the ballot.
The group behind this initiative – which appears to be largely led by an out-of-state operation – has come to Michigan to defy the will of the people who TWICE voted overwhelmingly to amend our state Constitution to strengthen the security of our elections and ensure that every person eligible to vote in Michigan can do so without unnecessary barriers. Their plan would undermine both amendments, creating barriers to voting – the cornerstone of democracy.
If enough signatures are collected, this dangerous initiative could be placed on the 2026 ballot. If passed, it would upend the voter registration process by imposing this new, burdensome hurdle that would prevent millions of currently-registered voters from voting until they provide documents proving citizenships, like a passport or birth certificate – documents that are not easily accessible to many people, and cost money to obtain.
This initiative will do nothing to enhance election security. Instead, it will create obstacles that prevent millions of eligible Michigan voters from participating in our democracy. We have seen the harmful consequences faced by states that have enacted similar laws, and we have the power to stop this from happening here. It is our hope that Michigan voters will reject this transparent attempt to block them from exercising their right to vote and decline to sign the Americans for Citizen Voting - Michigan petition.