Latest election-related bill would ban critical source of funding for Michigan’s elections, costing Michigan taxpayers millions

View a PDF of the press release here.

MICHIGAN – Today, the House Elections and Ethics Committee will consider HB 5253, a bill that would make election administration more difficult without improving integrity or accountability in Lansing. In response Shira Roza, voting rights manager for Promote the Vote released the following statement:

“Among other things, this bill would prevent Michigan from accepting money from the federal government for ‘election-related equipment,’ thus shifting an enormous financial burden onto Michigan taxpayers. More than 75 percent of the funds used to purchase new voting machines across Michigan in 2017 and 2018 came from the federal government.[1] Cutting off this critical source of funding will make it harder to vote for the people of Michigan and will undermine the security of our elections.”

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Promote the Vote is a coalition of partner organizations committed to ensuring that Michigan’s voting system works for all. These partner organizations share a rich history and deep investment in preserving and advancing the rights and protections of marginalized communities and Michigan voters.