LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 28, 2025) — Today, state Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) issued the following statement in response to a proposed constitutional amendment by Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford), House Joint Resolution B. The amendment would require voters to demonstrate proof of citizenship when registering to vote and would require voters to present a government photo ID when casting their ballot. The initiative would require a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature, or a successful ballot initiative in order to go into effect.
“This is an irresponsible proposal that would have serious consequences on our voting rights, potentially blocking tens of thousands of legal, legitimate voters from casting their ballots, including seniors, rural residents, people who have been recently married or divorced, college students, and voters of color. When other states have tried this kind of voter suppression tactic, the federal courts have struck it down.
“This proposal shouldn’t even have been introduced, let alone be taken up for a vote by the Legislature or the public. If this measure passed, it would undo much of the progress we’ve made on voting rights over the past few election cycles. If House Republicans want to work on real voter reform, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I will be reintroducing the Michigan Voting Rights Act again this year and we hope to earn their support.”
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