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League of Women Voters of Michigan

The League of Women Voters of Michigan often takes positions on legislative or citizen initiatives and other proposed governmental policy or regulatory decisions. If an initiative reaches a legislative committee, a voting body or other decision makers, the League may take action (testimony, letters, phone calls, public statements, etc). The lack of public action is not indicative of the numerous decisions to support or oppose an issue that the League makes on a regular basis.

League of Women Voters of Michigan Advocacy Efforts

LWVMI opposes HB 4765, which would require citizenship documents in order to register to vote.  A letter to the House Election Integrity Committee was sent on March 2, 2026.  These required documents would be especially burdensome for people who have changed their name since birth.  The League believes every citizen has a right to vote and these additional barriers only serve to disenfranchise eligible voters and depress voter turnout. Michigan voters are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in elections!  Read the letter here.

FEBRUARY 16, 2026 REJECT LINE 5 TUNNEL PERMIT
The League sent an Action Alert to over 4,000 members and contacts urging them to send a letter to Governor Whitmer.  We’re asking the Governor to use her authority under the Clean Water Act to reject Enbridge’s permit request for its Line 5 Tunnel. The January 2026 report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers makes it clear that the proposed Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel will cause permanent harm to the Great Lakes. to reject the Line 5 Tunnel Permit.  You can still take action by clicking here! 

FEBRUARY 14, 2026 OPPOSE REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ACCEPT
The League of Michigan Board of Directors voted to oppose HB 5310, 5311 and 5312 which would require all school districts in Michigan to accept applications from out-of-district students, ending local school board discretion on student enrollment.  These bills would also prohibit tuition from being charged to nonresident students.

JANUARY 29, 2026 SAY NO TO A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The League of Women Voters of Michigan joins other pro-democracy organizations urging the public to vote no on Proposal 1. A “Con-Con” would be a long, costly process and it would allow special interests to insert their narrow agendas into our constitution in secret. A Con Con would open up our constitution for a complete rewrite by partisan delegates beholden to special interests.  Read the Opinion piece published in the Detroit News.

JANUARY 28, 2026 SUPPORT FOR ICE RESTRAINTS
The LWVMI Board approved support of SB 508, 509, 510 which would prohibit a law enforcement officer from conducting an immigration enforcement action in a sensitive location without a court order or imminent threat,  prohibit a government entity from providing an individual’s identifying information without a court order and would prohibit a law enforcement officer from wearing a mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public except in specified circumstances.  The League sent a card in support of these bills to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

JANUARY 26, 2026  LET VOTERS VOTE!
LWVMI hosted a panel discussion, Let Voters Vote!  Why Documentary Proof of Citizenship is Needless Voter Suppression with 3 election experts Chris Thomas, former Michigan Elections Director, Melanie Macey, Policy and Government Affairs Director at Promote the Vote and Valencia Richardson, Voting Rights attorney at the Campaign Legal Center.  (The stand-alone power point can be found here.)

JANUARY 11, 2026 SUPPORT FOR DATA CENTER WATER RESTRICTIONS
LWVMI supports SB 761, 762 and 763, which would limit water withdrawals by data centers, require the MPSC to report on energy and water usage by data centers, and bar water utilities from passing on the infrastructure costs to accommodate data centers to residential customers.

JANUARY 11, 2026 SUPPORT FOR FAIR CHANCE ACCESS TO HOUSING
The League supports HB5355 and SB 738 which would prohibit landlords from requiring rental applicants to disclose criminal records on an application, require landlords to first evaluate rental applicants without information on criminal record, and require landlords to conduct an individualized assessment to withdraw an applicant’s approval due to a serious felony conviction

JANUARY 11, 2026 “DPOC” PROPOSALS ARE BAD FOR VOTERS AND CLERKS
LWVMI joined other pro-voter groups urging Michigan local and county governments to resolve to oppose the Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC)  ballot proposals that would add unnecessary red tape and suppress citizens’ right to vote.  Read the letter here.