The League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI) and

Henry Ford Community College present:

The 21st Century Voter: Promoting Michigan Voter Power Friday, April 24 th

Henry Ford Community College

5101 Evergreen Rd. , Dearborn , MI

9 am to 3:30 pm.

Conference Highlights

Revisiting Term Limits: In November 1992, voters approved an amendment to Michigan 's constitution that limits the number of terms a person may serve in various elected offices. Despite their popularity, term limits have not led to the types of changes proponents expected.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and House Speaker Andy Dillon are joined by Dr. Richard Cole, Michigan State University, and Dr. Marjorie Sarbaugh-Thompson, Wayne State University, to discuss the effects of term limits and proposals for constitutional change.
 

Fair and Impartial Courts: The 2008 Michigan Supreme Court election campaign was the most expensive yet for a single seat on the Court, and one of the most rancorous in memory. Over half the money spent in the campaign paid for candidate-focused issue advertisements, for which there is no real financial accountability. This decade-long pattern raises questions of recusal and due process that can undermine faith in the impartiality of Court decisions.

Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly addresses the effects of money and politics in campaigns for the Michigan Supreme Court and how to safeguard public confidence in the Court's impartiality. Mark Brewer, Democratic Party Chair, Robert LaBrant, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and Rich Robinson, Michigan Campaign Finance Network, discuss the role of candidate-focused issue advertisements in Michigan Supreme Court campaigns.

 
Innovations in Voting and Election Laws: Many states have adopted reforms to make it easier to vote, such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, and voter registration alternatives. 28 states allow no-excuse absentee voting and 31 provide for some form of early voting.  

Jocelyn Benson , Assistant Professor of Law, Wayne State University , opens the conference with a look at ways states are making voting easier for voters and more efficient for administrators.  A panel of county and municipal clerks provides perspectives on enacting and implementing these types of reforms in Michigan .
 

To Register:   On-line registration form to be used only if you are paying by credit card or

                    PayPal (click here)

                        Students Only on-line registration (click here)