Today, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan vetoed a package of voter suppression laws—including HB 5061, SB 754 and SB 803—passed by the state legislature. Project Vote Executive Director Michael Slater issued the following statement in response:
“Governor Snyder is to be congratulated for doing right by Michigan voters and taking an important stand against the current onslaught of voter suppression laws. These laws would have expanded unnecessary voter ID requirements and imposed unfair requirements and restrictions on voter registration drives, making it harder for eligible Michigan citizens to participate in our democracy.
With this veto, Governor Snyder set Michigan apart from too many other states that have passed suppressive voting laws. From voter ID requirements in Pennsylvania, to attacks on voter registration in Florida and Texas, the current trend has been to suppress, not empower, American voters. With an estimated 51 million eligible Americans still not registered to vote, such laws represent a major step in the wrong direction.
Governor Snyder has previously stated that he opposed laws that disenfranchise eligible voters, and today he proved to be a man of his word, taking action to protect the rights of eligible Michigan residents to register, vote, and cast a ballot that counts.
We know that our democracy works best when every American participates. As the nation prepares to celebrate our independence and liberty, we congratulate Governor Snyder for standing up for democracy and sending a clear message that voter suppression will not be tolerated. We hope other elected officials across the country will follow his example.”