Make sure you can vote before you read about what is at stake.
2 competing measures on Michigan’s November ballot. One expands voting access. The other restricts it. The outcome decides the rules for 8.4 million registered voters.
Two Visions, One Ballot
Michigan’s split legislature has produced two competing election proposals heading toward the November 3 ballot.
Democrats in the state Senate introduced the Michigan Voting Rights Act, a state-level version of the federal VRA designed to fill the gap left by the Supreme Court’s rulings in Shelby County and Louisiana v. Callais. The bills would require voting materials in multiple languages, expand assistance for voters with disabilities, and create a nonpartisan state voter institute for election management.
Republicans in the House passed HB 4765, requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Birth certificate, passport, or naturalization documents must be verified before registration is processed.
A separate ballot initiative backed by Americans for Citizen Voting collected enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot requiring that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections.
What Each Proposal Does
| Michigan Voting Rights Act (D) | Proof of Citizenship (R) | |
|---|---|---|
| Expands | Multilingual voting materials, disability access, election data transparency | Nothing |
| Restricts | Nothing | Registration requires birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers |
| Addresses | Supreme Court erosion of federal VRA protections | Noncitizen voting (which is already illegal and occurs at near-zero rates) |
| Affects | All voters, especially non-English speakers and voters with disabilities | Voters who lack documents — disproportionately low-income, elderly, and voters of color |
Why This Matters
Michigan is a toss-up state in 2026. The governor’s race, a Senate seat (Peters retiring), and full legislative control are on the ballot. Voting rules set this year will govern all of it.
The proof-of-citizenship requirement mirrors the federal SAVE Act that passed the U.S. House. If both the state and federal versions pass, Michigan voters without a passport or birth certificate on hand would face barriers at both levels.
What you can do
- Check your registration at vote.org. Michigan’s general election is November 3.
- Know what’s on your ballot. The citizenship amendment will appear alongside candidate races.
Read more on the Voting and Elections hub and our Michigan state page.