LANSING—Michigan Senate Democrats on Tuesday celebrated the passage of a state-focused Voting Rights Act, although the legislation now heads to the Republican-led House of Representatives, which is unlikely to rush the four-bill package to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bills 961, 962, 963 and 964 each passed in the Legislature’s upper chamber on a 20-17 vote along party lines.
Michigan Democrats have for the past several years warned that the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court could and eventually would dismantle key provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.
That fear is now a reality with the US high court’s latest action in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the six Republican-appointed justices voted to gut Section 2 of the act—the primary tool against discriminatory voting rights policies from states hostile to voters of color.
The package passed by the Senate Tuesday would, among other things, prohibit state and local governments from adopting election policies or practices that reduce voting access for protected groups; establish a Michigan Voting Rights Assistance Fund; provide for reimbursement of certain legal and local government costs; and permit courts to order necessary remedies including redrawn district maps, changes to election procedures and court oversight.
The Michigan Senate passed similar legislation in the 2023-24 Legislature, but it died in the House during a chaotic lame duck session.
The current package was reintroduced in May and was passed less than a month later.
“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and protecting that right requires constant vigilance — especially right now,” said state Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), sponsor of SB 961, in a statement. “The MVRA will help ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard and strengthen the integrity of our elections for generations to come.”
State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield), who sponsored SB 962, said the Democratic Senate majority delivered on “bold protections that ensure voters can cast their ballots freely, accurately, and without fear of intimidation.”
“This legislation reinforces our commitment to making sure every Michigander can participate fully in our democracy,” Moss said in a statement.
READ MORE: State Sen. Darrin Camilleri pushes Voting Rights Act as a firewall for Michigan voters
This coverage was republished from Michigan Advance pursuant to a Creative Commons license.
