Lawyers' Committee Applauds Governor Snyder's Veto of Proposed Changes to Michigan's Voting Laws
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 03, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's veto of proposed voting laws, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the statement below:
We applaud Governor Snyder for vetoing SB 754 (requiring photo ID to register to vote and new restrictions on voter registration organizations), SB 803 (requiring voters to affirm citizenship before being issued a ballot), and HB 5061 (requiring photo ID to receive an absentee ballot). Increasingly, lawmakers are realizing that the changes in voting laws sweeping the country do nothing to secure election integrity and result only in disenfranchising eligible voters, particularly minorities, young voters, individuals with disabilities, and seniors.
These bills would have had a devastating effect on the ability of Michigan voters to register and to vote on Election Day. With this victory comes a reminder that there is still much work to be done in Michigan. Improvements to election administration, adequate funding for elections, and real election reform like modernized voter registration and early voting should continue to be priorities for the State.
About the Lawyers' Committee
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers' Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas of fair housing and fair lending, community development, employment discrimination, voting, education and environmental justice. For more information about the LCCRUL, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.
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