FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Engage Michigan

January 18, 2016

Contact: Marissa Luna, 989-798-3051, marissa@engagemichigan.org

Citizens Groups Call for Expanded Voting Rights on MLK Day

Legislators should make voting more accessible

LANSING – Today, in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., voting rights groups are calling on elected leaders in Lansing to expand citizens’ voting rights and oppose voter suppression legislation.

Several bills were introduced and/or passed in 2015 that would negatively impact voters’ ability to participate in elections. Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill to eliminate straight ticket voting. Another bill that was introduced would put up numerous roadblocks to local officials who want to make voting more convenient and accessible in their communities.

The organizations listed below sign on to the following statement:

“Voting is our right and our responsibility. The integrity of our elections depends on every eligible citizen being able to register and cast their ballot. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that and dedicated his life to ensuring that every eligible citizen in America had the right to participate in our democracy. We continue in 2016 in carrying on his quest by urging our representatives to modernize and streamline elections in order to make voting more accessible, convenient, accurate, and fair.”

Michigan State Conference NAACP

APIAVote-MI

Sierra Club Michigan Chapter

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Fair Elections Legal Network

League of Women Voters of Michigan

Michigan Election Reform Alliance

Michigan Muslim Community Council

Michigan Center for Election Law

American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan

Michigan Clean Water Action

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