Oakland County Resolution Vote Set for July 16 as Coalition Seeks Local Resolution Support Statewide

On Tuesday, July 7, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Legislative and Government Operations Committee voted 5-2 to advance a resolution opposing the proposed Michigan constitutional amendment that would require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and impose additional identification requirements when voting.

Many eligible voters do not have easy access to documents such as a passport or birth certificate, or have records that do not match their current name or address.

A vote on the resolution is expected during the full Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, July 16 at 9:30am.

Coalition partners are asking Oakland County residents and organizations to attend the meeting, provide public comment, and ask commissioners to vote yes on the resolution. If you cannot attend, you can contact commissioners and ask them to support the resolution.

Community members who want to help bring similar resolutions to other cities, townships, and counties should complete the local resolution campaign sign-up form so coalition partners can follow up with materials and next steps.

What the resolution says

Resolution #2026-6651, sponsored by Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles, opposes the proposed constitutional amendment being advanced by Americans for Citizen Voting. Commissioner Smith Charles has also committed to working with her colleagues and the nonpartisan coalition to raise awareness about the proposal through November.

The resolution states that the proposal would require voters to provide documents such as a passport or birth certificate when registering to vote and additional documentation when casting a ballot. It also raises concerns about red tape, confusion, costs for voters, and new administrative requirements for local election officials.

If adopted, the resolution would also ask the Oakland County Clerk to send copies to Michigan’s other 82 counties and the Oakland County delegation in the state Legislature.

Why local action is important

Current state and federal law already prohibit noncitizens from voting. Michigan voters also approved constitutional voting protections in 2018 and 2022, including same-day voter registration, no-excuse absentee voting, and in-person early voting.

Documentary proof of citizenship requirements are not the same as Michigan’s current voter identification rules. The proposed constitutional amendment would require eligible voters to provide additional citizenship documents to register or update their voter registration.

The requirements could create particular barriers for people with disabilities, young voters, seniors, rural residents, married women and others who have changed their names, low-income voters, people experiencing housing instability, and people returning home from incarceration.

Local resolutions give county commissions, city councils, and township boards a way to affirm Michigan voters’ freedom to vote and oppose proposals that would add barriers to the voting process.

July 16 public comment and vote

Date: Thursday, July 16
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
1200 N. Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI

If you plan to attend, please sign up through the Voters Not Politicians Mobilize link. Please also share the sign-up link with others who may be able to attend and provide public comment.

Community members can help by:

• Attending the meeting and providing public comment
• Contacting Oakland County commissioners before the meeting
• Requesting the coalition letter to share with commissioners by emailing contact@votingaccessforall.org with “DPOC Coalition Letter Request” in the subject line
• Asking commissioners to vote yes on Resolution #2026-6651

Public comment is limited to three minutes per person. Oakland County residents can explain why they oppose adding documentary proof of citizenship requirements to voter registration and why they want county leaders to protect the voting rights Michigan voters approved in 2018 and 2022.

Suggested public comment

My name is [name], and I am an Oakland County resident. I am asking the Board of Commissioners to vote yes on Resolution #2026-6651.

Michigan and federal law already prohibit noncitizens from voting. Requiring eligible voters to provide additional citizenship documents would add red tape, costs, and confusion to voter registration. These requirements could prevent eligible Michigan citizens from registering or updating their voter information.

Please support this resolution and protect the voting rights Michigan voters approved in 2018 and 2022.

Help bring resolutions to more Michigan communities

Nearly 50 nonpartisan organizations are working with residents to pass local resolutions opposing the Michigan documentary proof of citizenship ballot initiative and the additional red tape it would create for eligible voters.

The coalition includes organizations representing people with disabilities, young people, seniors, rural voters, transgender voters, Black and Brown voters, immigrant communities, people with prior convictions, low-income voters, faith communities, community service organizations, and pro-democracy advocates.

Community members can help bring a resolution to their city, township, or county. Read VAAC’s previous update about the statewide local resolutions campaign.

Complete the local resolution campaign sign-up form, and a coalition team member will follow up with materials and next steps. You can also share the sign-up form with others who may be interested in helping bring a resolution to their community.

Signing up does not require policy expertise. Participants may help by contacting local officials, requesting and sharing coalition materials, attending public meetings, or providing public comment. To request the coalition letter, email contact@votingaccessforall.org with “DPOC Coalition Letter Request” in the subject line.

For questions or suggestions about the resolutions campaign, contact Ben Gardner, Michigan Senior Campaign Manager with All Voting Is Local, at ben@allvotingislocal.org.