Democratic lawmakers demand swift action against heightened federal attacks on voting rights
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LANSING, Mich., May 14, 2026 — In response to escalating right-wing efforts nationwide to restrict access to the ballot box, including the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais that further weakened foundational protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, state Reps. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield), Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit), Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit) and Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) reintroduced legislation this week to establish a Michigan Voting Rights Act. The legislation would help ensure every eligible Michigander can fully and fairly exercise their fundamental right to vote. “Following Louisiana v. Callais, we are now in a moment when the erosion of federal voting rights protections for Black and minority voters is both immediate and severe. Michigan cannot afford to wait for the full harmful consequences to fully materialize. The Michigan Voting Rights Act is a necessary step to guarantee that the fundamental right to vote and fair representation are protected with the seriousness, rigor, and constitutional fairness our democracy demands,” Hoskins said. “Michigan voters fought for fair district lines that keep communities together and protect their ability to elect representatives who understand and reflect their interests, and we will not allow this progress to be undone! Michigan leveled the playing field and stopped gerrymandering in its tracks. Dividing communities for strictly political reasons only weakens our democracy and undermines public trust in our elections. Black and minority voices are an important part of the fabric of this state and our country and ensuring these voices are at the table is paramount to the work we do in the legislature,” said Young, chair of the Detroit Caucus. House Bills 5969–5972, companion bills to Senate Bills 961–964, comprise a comprehensive pro-democracy package designed to strengthen Michigan’s election protections, expand voter accessibility and ensure local election officials comply with state law. Specifically, the Michigan Voting Rights Act would:
“The Voting Rights Act of 1965 remains one of the most consequential civil rights laws in our nation’s history. It was secured through the sacrifice and advocacy of generations of Americans. The U.S. Supreme Court recently gutted a key section of this law that protects voters from racial discrimination. The Court allowed these protections to be erased. Progress is not permanent. Now we are seeing elections cancelled and voting lines deliberately redrawn to eliminate Black representation. Michigan has a responsibility to act decisively to safeguard fair representation and to ensure that every voter’s voice, and their right to vote and have that vote counted, is fully protected,” Myers Phillips said. “Right now, across the country, Republican legislators are stripping Black voters, and other people of color, of their rights. Republicans know they cannot win through good policy or fair competition, so they aim to rig the rules and silence the voices of communities they fear. Michigan has strong protections today because Michigan voters demanded independent redistricting for fair maps. But we cannot assume those protections will always be safe. Sooner or later, Republicans in this state will try the same playbook here. That is exactly why Michigan needs our own Voting Rights Act,” Paiz said. The package was developed in partnership with key government stakeholders and numerous advocacy organizations focused on expanding voter access in Michigan and across the country. When the legislation was first introduced last session, it received support from dozens of organizations, including the Fair Elections Center, Michigan League for Public Policy, NAACP Michigan State Conference, Brennan Center for Justice and the League of Women Voters of Michigan, among others. |
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