Wayne County Commissioners call on Congress to protect voting rights

Published on May 20, 2021

Wayne County Commissioners today urged Congress to pass the For the People Act, H.R. 1, a bill that would allow same-day voter registration and prohibit restrictions on mail-in ballots.

Restrictions on voter registration and absentee ballots have been approved this year by Legislatures in several U.S. states and are under consideration in Michigan.

"As representatives of the largest county in Michigan and one of the largest in the United States, it is important for us to make our voices heard on such an important issue," Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said in sponsoring the resolution with Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch (D-Detroit).

In expressing support for H.R. 1, the resolution noted that voting "is not a privilege, but also one of the single most fundamental rights."

Commissioners noted that efforts to restrict voter registration and absentee ballots were based on unproven allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 federal election.

Commissioners also noted that H.R. 1 would also limit use of special interest money in elections and strengthen disclosure requirements for political donors.

"This will serve as an insurance policy to protect voters rights for the future in America," Kinloch said.

The vote was 14-1, with Commissioner Terry Marecki (R-Livonia) dissenting over concerns that H.R. 1 would set federal standards on an issue traditionally determined by each state individually.

H.R. 1 passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March but has yet to be voted upon in the U.S. Senate.

By Commissioners Bell and Kinloch

WHEREAS, fair elections and the fundamental right to vote are the framework of a strong democracy. Voting is not a privilege, but is one of the single most fundamental rights that can be exercised in a democracy and one that should be protected and championed; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Constitution provides broad authority to the federal government to protect the right to vote, regulate elections and prevent voting discrimination; and WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has upheld the Constitution's grant of the right of citizens to vote and participate in the democratic process without undue interference as provided by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments; and

WHEREAS, there has been recent efforts by some states to revert to Jim Crow-era tactics that significantly restrict voting access and unjustly disenfranchise various groups of voters by employing excessively onerous voter identification requirements, burdensome voter registration procedures, voter purges, limited and unequal access to voting by mail, polling place closures, unequal distribution of election resources, and other impediments; and

WHEREAS, most notably in 2021, legislators from various states introduced bills under the veil of "election integrity" that further erode the right to vote for many eligible citizens, mostly citizens of color; and

WHEREAS, in light of these unmerited attempts, Congressional Bill H.R. 1, named the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021, (the "Bill") has been introduced to ensure that the integrity, security, and accountability of the voting process be vigilantly protected, maintained, and enhanced in order to protect and preserve electoral and participatory democracy in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Bill aims to simplify voter registration, allow automatic and same-day registrations, limit use of Social Security numbers to protect privacy, and prohibit restrictions on mail-in voting among other restrictive measures; and

WHEREAS, the Bill would also institute campaign finance and ethics policies that fortify our democracy by bringing integrity to the democratic process, would place limits on the use of special interest monies, and political donor disclosure requirements will be strengthened while improvements to the campaign finance system will be implemented; and

WHEREAS, the continued erosion of voter rights and disenfranchisement of citizens of color is unwarranted and unconstitutional. Legislation that preserves the right to vote, encourages transparency in government and improves participation in the political process is necessary and should be enacted federally and in every state in the union. Now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission on this 20th day of May, 2021 does hereby support the passage of Congressional Bill H.R. 1 to protect the fundamental right to vote for every citizen and restore integrity and transparency in the democratic process; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission urges President Joe Biden and the United States Congress to support Congressional Bill H.R. 1 and any similar legislation to protect democracy, access, integrity, and security in this country's electoral system; and be it further

RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, members of the Michigan congressional delegation, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the Wayne County delegation in the Michigan Legislature.

Wayne County Commissioners call on Congress to protect voting rights(PDF, 185KB)