The League of Women Voters of Michigan often takes positions on legislative or citizen initiatives and other proposed governmental policy or regulatory decisions. If an initiative reaches a legislative committee, a voting body or other decision makers, the League may take action (testimony, letters, phone calls, public statements, etc). The lack of public action is not indicative of the numerous decisions to support or oppose an issue that the League makes on a regular basis.
5-22-23 SUPPORT FOR BILLS IMPLEMENTING PROPOSAL 2
Additional legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to codify the voting rights included in the passage of the Promote the Vote Ballot Proposal passed in November, 2022. The LWVMI Board approved support of HB 4567, which would remove references to a challenged ballot, HB 4568 which would remove the prohibition on the hiring of transportation assistance to the polls, HB 4569, which would allow preregistration to vote at age 16, HB 4570 which would allow on-line application for an absent voter ballot and HB 4594 which would allow the tracking of an absentee ballot application and an absentee ballot.
4-20-23 LOCAL CLERKS NEED ADEQUATE FUNDING TO RUN ELECTIONS
LWVMI joined other voter protection groups in sending a letter to Sen. Jeremy Moss, Chair of the MI Senate Elections and Ethics Committee demanding sustainable and consistent funding for local clerks. “Implementing the Constitution’s new requirements is not discretionary, and the Secretary of State and clerks have emphasized that it will require significant work by and resources for election officials. These resources are necessary to provide the locations, access, staff, training, technology, transparency, audits, and other procedures that ensure the integrity of our elections leading to greater access to the ballot for all Michigan voters.”
4-17-23 MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS SHOULD HAVE 6 DAYS TO RETURN BALLOTS
LWVMI supports SB 259, a bill that allows the military to file electronically. Paper ballots from both the military and other overseas voters would have 6 days beyond election day for their paper ballot to be received in order to be counted.
4-17-23 DRIVER’S LICENCES AND STATE IDS FOR IMMIGRANTS
SB 275-267 and HB 4410-12, supported by the League of Women Voters, would allow immigrants to get driver’s licenses and state IDs. There would no longer be a citizenship requirement or legal presence requirement.
4-13-23 AMICUS BRIEF SIGN-ON: OPPOSING “ADOPT AND AMEND”
LWVMI joined other pro-democracy groups to sign on to an Amicus Brief opposing the ‘adopt and amend’ procedure that was used by the Legislature to gut the citizen-led referendums that would have raised the minimum wage and guaranteed earned paid sick leave.
APRIL 8, 2023 SUPPORT FOR STATE ID TO PAROLEES
LWVMI supports HBs 4191-94 that would provide driver’s license and sate identification cards to parolees. These bills will allow incarcerated individuals to reenter and contribute to their communities immediately upon their release, reducing their chances of being reincarcerated.
APRIL 8, 2023 SUPPORT FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS
SB 177 would allow military and other people overseas to submit absentee ballot electronically.
APRIL 8, 2023 SUPPORT FOR BILLS TO REPEAL OLD ANTI-ABORTION LAWS
SB 93 would repeal Section 15 of the Michigan Penal Code (MPC), which states any person who advertises, publishes, or sells any pills, powder, drugs or combination of drugs, designed expressly for the use of females for the purpose of procuring an abortion is guilty of a misdemeanor unless the drug or medicine was sold upon the written prescription of a practicing physician, and the dealer or druggist registered certain information pertaining to the purchaser, medicine, and physician in his or her records. SB 147 The bill would amend the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to delete a provision specifying that the prohibition against an employer treating an individual affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition differently from another individual does not apply in the case of a nontherapeutic abortion not intended to save the life of the mother.
HB 4006 would repeal Sections 14 of the MPC which prescribes a felony for administering to a pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or substance, or employing any instrument or other means, with intent to procure a miscarriage, unless it is necessary to protect the life of the mother, and Section 15, which prescribes a misdemeanor penalty for a person who advertises, publishes, or sells any pills, powder, drugs or combination of drugs, designed expressly for the use of females for the purpose of procuring an abortion.
MARCH 14, 2023 SUPPORT FOR JUVENILE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND DETENTION CENTER IN GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY
The League of Women Voters of Michigan supports the creation of a facility within Grand Traverse County to house and treat youth who are acting in an unsafe manner to themselves or to their community. It is imperative that there be a facility in northern Michigan so juveniles can be close to their homes and families. Read the letter here.
MARCH 14, 2023 ACTION ALERT TO SUPPORT FIREARM SAFETY BILLS
League members and friends were asked to send emails to Michigan legislators urging passage of SB 76-86 and HB 4138-4148. These bills would extend the criminal background check to all firearm sales, require safe storage of firearms and would provide a pathway for ‘Red Flag’ orders that temporarily prohibit a person who is at risk of harming themselves or others from buying a firearm.
MARCH 7, 2023 TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF NPV
At a public hearing held by the Michigan House Elections Committee, Judy Karandjeff testified in support of National Popular Vote. See testimony here.
MARCH 1, 2023 ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDED AFTER MICHIGAN’S DEVASTATING POWER OUTAGE
LWVMI has signed on to a letter initiated by Michigan Energy-Michigan Jobs to demand swift action across Michigan government in response to the February ice storm that left nearly a million residents without power, some for a week. Michigan residents pay the highest energy rates in the midwest for the least reliable service. “That is why we call on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, the Michigan Legislature and the Michigan Public Service Commission to continue holding utilities accountable and advancing policies that address climate change while prioritizing equity, health and affordability.”
FEBRUARY 24, 2023 ACTION ALERT FOR NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
On February 24th, LWVMI sent out an Action Alert to its members and supports to urge their legislators to join the National Popular Vote Compact which supports electing the President by the national popular vote. Action can still be taken here.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 SUPPORT FOR ABORTION DRUGS
The League of Women Voters of Michigan supports SB 2, SB 37, SB 38 and SB 39 which remove penalties for administering drugs that might cause a miscarriage/abortion.
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 SUPPORT FOR SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS
The League of Women Voters of Michigan supports SB 79, 80, 81 and 82. SB 79 would provide penalties for storing or leaving a firearm where it can be accessed by a minor. SB 80 would establish penalties for violating safe storage. SB 81 would remove the sales and use tax when purchasing a safety device and SB 82 would amend the tax code to allow for this change in the sales tax.
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 SUPPORT FOR FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS
LWVMI supports SB 76, SB 77, SB 78 which would provide for background check for purchasing a firearm and include changes in the penal code and criminal code for enforcement.
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 SUPPORT FOR “RED FLAG” LAWS
The League supports SB 83, SB 84, SB 85, SB 86 which would provide for extreme protection orders (ERPO) under certain circumstances and penalties for violating the orders. ERPO is a court order to remove guns from the hands of those who have exhibited behaviors that indicate they are likely to harm themselves or others.
FEBRUARY 17, 2023 SUPPORT FOR PROHIBITION OF FIREARMS AT POLLING PLACES
The LWVMI Board voted to support HB 4127, HB 4128, HB 4129 and HB 4130. HB 4127 and 4128 would prohibit possession of firearms at polling places, or within 100 feet of an absentee ballot counting board. HB 4129 would prohibit the intimidation of an election inspector or preventing an election inspector from performing his/her duties and HB 4130 would provide criminal penalties for violating these prohibitions.
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 ACTION ALERT FOR AMENDMENTS TO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
LWVMI sent out an Action Alert to our members and friends of the League urging them to contact their legislators to support the amendments to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. Action can still be taken here.
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 LWVMI SUPPORTS SB 3 – EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
The LWV believes that one of the goals of social policy should be to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families and that most effective social programs are those designed to prevent or reduce poverty. Under this bill, the EITC would increase to 30% for tax years that begin after Dec.. 31, 2025.
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 LWVMI SUPPORTS ADDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION FOR PROTECTION UNDER ELCRA
LWVMI supports HB 4003 and SB4, which would add sexual orientation, gender identity and expression to Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 LWVMI SUPPORTS BILL TO REPEAL 1931 ABORTION BILL.
LWVMI supports HB 4006 which would repeal PA 328 of 1931 that bans abortion in Michigan
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 LWVMI SUPPORTS PRISONER POPULATION COUNT IN PRISONS TO BE THEIR HOME ADDRESS
SB 33, supported by LWVMI, would report the residency of an individual who is incarcerated in a correctional institution operated by the department as their home address. That information relates to a population count that is used for the establishment of a voting district in the census that takes place every 10 years.
FEBRUARY 7, 2023 LWVMI CONTINUES TO OPPOSE EXPANSION OF CAMP GRAYLINGLWVMI sent a letter to Governor Whitmer opposing the proposed expansion of Camp Grayling to double its current size.