Michigan Senate Passes State Voting Rights Act on 20-17 Party-Line Vote
Michigan Senate Democrats passed a four-bill state Voting Rights Act on a 20-17 party-line vote, but the package now faces an uphill battle in the Republican-led House.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — The Michigan Senate passed a four-bill state Voting Rights Act on Tuesday, sending the legislation to the Republican-led House of Representatives, where its prospects remain uncertain. Senate Bills 961, 962, 963 and 964 each cleared the upper chamber on a 20-17 vote along party lines.
What the Bills Would Do
The package approved by Senate Democrats would prohibit state and local governments from adopting election policies or practices that reduce voting access for protected groups. The legislation would also establish a Michigan Voting Rights Assistance Fund and provide reimbursement for certain legal and local government costs.
Under the bills, courts would be empowered to order remedies including redrawn district maps, changes to election procedures and court oversight when violations are found. The bills now move to the Republican-controlled House, which is not expected to fast-track the package to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk.
Federal Backdrop: Supreme Court Guts Section 2
Michigan Senate Democrats framed the legislation as a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the court’s six Republican-appointed justices voted to gut Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act. Section 2 had served as the primary legal tool to challenge discriminatory voting policies enacted by states hostile to voters of color.
Michigan Democrats have warned for several years that the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court could dismantle key provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act. The ruling in Louisiana v. Callais brought those warnings to fruition, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
State Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) spoke at a Lansing press conference in May to announce the reintroduction of the Michigan Voting Rights Act ahead of Tuesday’s Senate vote.
Legislative History
This is not the first time Senate Democrats have pushed the legislation. The Michigan Senate passed a similar package during the 2023-24 legislative session, though that effort did not ultimately advance to become law, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
With the House now under Republican control, the four bills face an uncertain path forward. Democratic senators argued the federal rollback of voting protections makes state-level action more urgent.
