There is a movement afoot to undermine the voter expansion amendments Michigan’s electorate passed in 2018 and 2022. Currently, circulators are trying to gather signatures on petitions which will require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. This is all to solve a problem which does not exist: non-citizens voting.

The incident of non-citizens voting is vanishingly rare. About 15 incidents per election in Michigan. These proposed amendments, by contrast, will disenfranchise tens of thousands of eligible voters.

The circulators are saying, “This just requires that you show a picture ID to vote.” Unfortunately, this is only a small part of it. They also require that you show an original birth certificate, passport or naturalization papers to register to vote. Oh, and the name has to match the name currently on your ID (any women out there whose birth certificate does not say their married name? Uh-oh!). Twenty million Americans do not have access to an original birth certificate or passport. Securing these documents is time-consuming and expensive. These amendments will lead to eligible voters being unable to register. Period.

So, if you want every eligible voter to be able to vote, do not sign any petition that talks about citizens only voting or requiring a picture ID to vote.

Voting rights are the foundation of our democracy. Please help protect them by spreading the alarm about these petitions.