League of Women Voters Offers Voting Rights Update

OutFront Kalamazoo believes that the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and a fundamental right upon which our civil liberties rest. Voting rights is an LGBTQ+ issue and we are pleased to share this announcement from The League of Women Voters of the Kalamazoo Area.

November 27, 2021 - The League of Women Voters of the Kalamazoo Area offers voters an opportunity to learn about Michigan’s fair and secure elections in light of a ballot proposal that would affect voting access. The virtual event on Wednesday, December 1, 5:30-6:45 pm, features information from the League of Women Voters of Michigan and a question-and-answer session with Kalamazoo County Clerk Meredith Place, City of Kalamazoo Clerk Scott Borling, and City of Portage Clerk Erica Eklov.

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89972436312

The 2018 Promote the Vote ballot proposal was approved by 67% of Michigan voters. It made several changes to the constitution to make and keep voting more accessible. Now, in 2021, the state’s Board of Canvassers has approved the language in a petition to enact citizen-led legislation to take away Election Day voting options, make absentee voting less accessible, and decrease funding for election administration in Michigan. The ballot proposal includes an appropriation that, if approved by the Michigan Legislature, would prevent a vote of the people from overturning the law, further denying the people of Michigan a voice on the issue.

“This proposal would eliminate some of the options adopted by the voters in 2018 that make voting more accessible to all, especially for Black and Brown communities, seniors, youth, people with disabilities and rural voters,” said Barb Dircks, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of the Kalamazoo Area. “Several reviews have shown that our last presidential election, operating under the 2018 law, was the most secure in history, demonstrating that our state’s existing elections safeguards are effective.”