Local volunteer urges Ypsilanti to oppose ballot proposals she says would restrict voting

A volunteer with the group Voters Not Politicians urged the Ypsilanti City Council to adopt a resolution opposing state ballot measures she said would create burdensome documentary proof‑of‑citizenship requirements.

Karen Chinnovar said the draft resolution in the council packet is intended to educate residents and oppose proposals that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship (DPOC) at registration and before casting ballots. Chinnovar said Michigan’s elections are secure and that imposing new documentary requirements would disproportionately affect people who move frequently, low‑income voters, some married women whose names changed, and other vulnerable groups.

Chinnovar cited a review by the Michigan secretary of state’s office that identified 16 potentially noncitizen registrations out of roughly 5.7 million votes cast in 2024 to underscore the low incidence she said the measures aim to address. She said the proposals could create significant local administrative costs, require clerks to collect new sensitive documents for absentee voters, and risk disenfranchising eligible voters.

Council members thanked the presenter and noted a related draft resolution is in the packet; one council member said the item will be on the agenda for a future meeting (February 17) to give council time to adapt the template to local needs. Chinnovar encouraged council to proceed quickly, and council members indicated they would review the template language and consider edits for Ypsilanti’s ordinance packet.

No formal council action on the resolution occurred at the meeting; staff and council indicated the item will return for consideration at a future meeting.