Mastodawn

Voting Access For All Dec 20, 2024

The Michigan House of Representatives effectively ended their legislative term this year by not showing up. Rather than representing their constituents and voting on key issues that have been witing for a hearing, 55 representatives were absent from their duties for several days this week.

House speaker Joe Tate said of those who failed to show up, “they refused to do their jobs.” […]

https://votingaccessforall.org/2024/12/lawmakers-absent-in-michigan/

Lawmakers Absent in Michigan – Voting Access For All

The Michigan House of Representatives effectively ended their legislative term this year by not showing up. Rather than representing their constituents and voting on key issues that have been witing for a hearing, 55 representatives were absent from their duties for several days this week. House speaker Joe Tate said of those who failed to […]

Voting Access For All

Voting Access For All Dec 13, 2024

Legislative statuses of a number of criminal legal reform legislation bills are changing quickly this week as Michigan’s “lame duck” session makes significant progress toward these critical reforms. As of last night, SB 494 to end prison gerrymandering passed from the Senate and has moved to the House.

We ask that you contact members of the Michigan House of Representatives […]

https://votingaccessforall.org/2024/12/prison-gerrymandering-legislation-moving-forward/

Prison Gerrymandering Legislation Moving Forward – Voting Access For All

Legislative statuses of a number of criminal legal reform legislation bills are changing quickly this week as Michigan’s “lame duck” session makes significant progress toward these critical reforms. As of last night, SB 494 to end prison gerrymandering passed from the Senate and has moved to the House. Learn more about prison gerrymandering on our […]

Voting Access For All

Voting Access For All Oct 31, 2024

Population counts from census data distort representation by counting prisoners as residents where they are incarcerated instead of their home. Take a detailed look at the state of prison gerrymandering across the country with this resource from Prison Policy Initiative.

We’ve identified over 200 cities and counties that have taken action to avoid prison gerrymandering and some local […]

https://votingaccessforall.org/2024/10/prison-policy-initiative-local-governments-and-prison-gerrymandering/

Prison Policy Initiative: Local Governments and Prison Gerrymandering – Voting Access For All

Population counts from census data distort representation by counting prisoners as residents where they are incarcerated instead of their home. Take a detailed look at the state of prison gerrymandering across the country with this resource from Prison Policy Initiative. We’ve identified over 200 cities and counties that have taken action to avoid prison gerrymandering […]

Voting Access For All

Harry Underwood May 29, 2024

The “Equal Representation Act” may arguably be unconstitutional, but it is also worthless without adding a prohibition on prison gerrymandering. #PrisonGerrymandering #EqualRepresentationAct #reapportionment #USPol #redistricting #USPolitics #USLeg #Gerrymandering

Voting Access For All Jun 22, 2023

Voting Access For All Coalition is thrilled to share that SB494 will soon receive a hearing before the Committee on Elections & Ethics.

Michigan currently counts incarcerated people as residents of the places where prisons are located rather than in the communities where they would otherwise reside, where their families live, and where they overwhelmingly return upon release from incarceration.

Because of prison gerrymandering, our communities are not only robbed of fair representation, but of access to resources that they could benefit from. Proper representation in the legislature ensures fair allocation of funding for things that directly impact the quality of life in a community and supports things like hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and resources for job seekers. The resources that are needed are stripped away and communities find themselves in a continual struggle to survive. That’s the destructive impact of prison gerrymandering.

This bill would end that practice by requiring that the pre-incarceration address of incarcerated individuals in Michigan be reported when providing information for voting district population counts.

We are circulating a sign-on letter and are asking for your support… Please sign-on and share widely with your community.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E4wF7zwAG2XheuG5X6XFoxwTSlztM6JhmE9q6sJZsx8/edit?ts=6478dd0a

https://votingaccessforall.org/2023/06/call-to-action-dear-friends-we-need-your-support/

#prisonGerrymandering #Redistricting

Stop Prison Gerrymandering Sign-On Statement Signature Request

We are calling on you for your support on Michigan Senate Bill 494 to end prison gerrymandering. HOW YOU CAN HELP: You can let your voice be heard by submitting your information below to our sign-on statement to elected officials and other workforce policy decision-makers. Use the form below to submit your information. We'll take care of the rest. STATEMENT: The Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC), Voters Not Politicians, the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI), and our partners encourage support of Michigan Senate Bill 494 to end prison gerrymandering. SB494 would use a person's pre-incarceration address as their home address for the purpose of establishing voting districts. If passed, Michigan would join 14 states with laws or policies that end prison gerrymandering. The Prison Gerrymandering Project of the Prison Policy Initiative notes, "The way the Census Bureau counts people in prison creates significant problems for the fairness of our nation’s democracy. When the Census Bureau counts incarcerated people in prison instead of at home, there is a dramatic distortion of representation at local and state levels". We agree with the findings of the Brennan Center for Justice that, "When states draw districts without reallocating people who are incarcerated, they ignore the reality of the relationship between these individuals and the areas where prisons are located. Lawmakers who represent those areas often do not feel the same responsibility toward people in prison that they do for their other constituents and generally do not inquire about their welfare or represent their interests. Incarcerated individuals have much more meaningful connections to their home communities and the lawmakers who represent those areas, some of whom even perform constituent services on their behalf. But those areas see their representation in legislative bodies diluted, while areas with prisons receive more than their fair share." We call on our state legislators to ensure fair democratic representation is fully realized across Michigan, particularly for communities most impacted by the criminal legal system, by passing SB494. Contact: Chuck Warpehoski | Program Director, Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration | [email protected]

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