FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MICHIGAN - Ahead of Election Day, civic engagement organizations in Michigan released the following statement regarding the election, voter engagement efforts, and what comes after Election Day:
“We come together as representatives of organizations that work throughout Michigan to create and sustain a state where all people have a voice in building communities where they can thrive. We know that one of our greatest strengths as a state is the diversity of our communities, which are composed of people with different lived experiences, perspectives, and needs. Our collective communities are the cornerstone of the inclusive, multicultural democracy towards which we all work.
“Throughout this election cycle, which serves as a snapshot of the issues that are resonating with people in our state, we have witnessed the use of misinformation and disinformation to exploit biases and a steady drumbeat of harmful and hateful rhetoric targeting many of the diverse intersectional communities that make up the fabric of Michigan. We are especially troubled by the shaming and harmful rhetoric that has targeted Black and Latino men, and the anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, anti-Arab, homophobic,transphobic rhetoric that has permeated in the political arena. People in this state have been used as political fodder in targeted efforts to divide communities and fracture solidarity within and between communities, advocates, and allies.
“Despite this, people across Michigan are turning out to vote. As of today, more than 3.2 million votes were cast absentee, and early in-person votes cast surpassed one million this weekend. The collective action people in Michigan took to expand their voting rights by passing ballot initiatives in 2018, and 2022 means that many more people can make their voices heard through voting in accurate and secure elections.
“Of course, democracy is not limited to casting a ballot. Hundreds of thousands of conversations, door knocks, phone calls, and text messages by volunteers, friends, family members, and neighbors ensure that people understand why civic engagement, including voting, is essential.
“Our ability as citizens to influence and change our government, be it federal, state, or local, starts with exercising our right to vote. We encourage all Michiganders who have not yet voted to make a plan to do so on Tuesday, November 5th.
“What happens in between elections, however, is just as critical. An inclusive, multicultural democracy that delivers on the needs of its communities, especially those most marginalized from the democratic process, requires us to work collectively toward creating and sustaining communities where everyone thrives. It requires us to hold our elected leaders accountable for the issues that matter most to us, and it requires us to trust that people and communities know what they need.
“No matter the election result, we will continue to work together across the state to urge every Michigander to engage each other on the issues that underpin a strong, inclusive democracy reflective of the strength and power in the diversity of Michigan’s residents. From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Dearborn to Marquette, Inkster to Iron Mountain, we know there is work ahead to continue our collective effort to ensure that our communities and our state work for everyone.”
The statement was signed by the following organizations:
482Forward, Molly Sweeney
ACCESS, Rima Meroueh
ACLU of Michigan, Loren Khogali
African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA), Dr. Seydi Sarr
APIA Vote- MI, Rebeka Islam
Detroit Action, Scott Holiday
Detroit Disability Power, Dessa Cosma
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Angela Reyes
Equality Michigan, Erin Knott
Michigan League for Public Policy, Monique Stanton
Michigan United, Ken Whittaker
Michigan Voices, Sommer Foster
Mi Poder, Cindy Gamboa
Mothering Justice, Danielle Atkinson
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Paula Thornton Greear
Progress Michigan, Sam Inglot
Promote the Vote, Micheal Davis
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