Democracy Movement Up and Running in Michigan
Voter Protections Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 3
June 8, 2007
VOTER PROTECTION VICTORIES
By Alaina Beverly
Each month, representatives of organizations from across the state who believe in a more inclusive Michigan, gather together for a monthly Michigan Voice meeting. Michigan Voice is a state-based coalition of progressive and racially diverse organizations, which fosters collaboration and communication among nonprofit, social justice, and progressive-minded institutions.
Recently, Michigan Voice member organizations agreed to weave Advancement Project’s voter registration and verification practices into their voter registration routines to ensure that every voter they register will make it onto the voting rolls in 2007 and 2008.
“In 2006, 34 organizations worked together as part of the Michigan Voice collaborative to conduct voter engagement work from a centralized voter file, but without a centralized verification system. That is why Michigan Voice is excited to collaborate with Advancement Project to test a pilot voter registration verification program,” explained Ryan Friedrichs, Michigan coordinator for the Center for Civic Participation and Michigan Voice convener. “We plan to start in Detroit and Lansing in 2007 and early ‘08 with the aim of going to scale with a larger program for the ‘08 elections.”
Michigan Voice will, in part, use voter verification—a method of analyzing the effectiveness of voter registration processes—to identify patterns of disenfranchisement and obstacles to voter registration. According to Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, “Voter verification is a critical addition to the collective Michigan Voice 2007-08 plan to ensure outreach to and engagement of underrepresented communities. As an organization that focuses specifically on voter education and getting out the vote, we are thrilled to have partners like Advancement Project who complement our work. The work of this great new "whole" will undoubtedly make a huge difference in engaging citizens throughout Michigan.”
Incorporating voter protection practices into its activities is just one step in the community empowerment work of Michigan Voice members. “Voter verification is one element of Advancement Project’s partnership with Michigan Voice. The table is a committed group of advocates from all over the state,” explained Advancement Project Local Voter Protection Advocate Brian White, “who are working together to bring about a better Michigan—one where legislators are responsive to community needs, election officials value voters, and voters have a strong voice in determining the state’s future.” Be on the lookout for issue-based initiatives and voter mobilization. In Michigan, the democracy movement is on its way.
