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Community groups urge Kalamazoo County to oppose proposed voter ID measures
Summary
League of Women Voters, Voters Not Politicians, YWCA and other speakers urged Kalamazoo County commissioners to adopt a resolution opposing ballot measures that would impose documentary proof of citizenship, arguing such proposals would create barriers for eligible voters.
Kalamazoo County commissioners heard multiple public comments on March 17 urging the board to adopt a resolution opposing proposed ballot initiatives that would require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Who spoke: Speakers included Amy Pedardum of the League of Women Voters, Mariah Bryant of Voters Not Politicians, Ben Gardner of All Voting Local, and representatives from the YWCA and the Kalamazoo Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. They asked the board to advance a resolution opposing the Americans for Citizen Voting/SAVE Act–style initiatives and to use the county’s platform to defend voter access.
Main concerns: Speakers said documentary proof requirements would create additional barriers for eligible voters — including seniors, people in rural areas and service members — and risk criminalization errors during voter-roll cleanup. Mariah Bryant said the measures would “steal the right to vote from eligible legal US citizens,” and noted recent local cases where referrals for alleged voter-roll issues included people later confirmed to be citizens.
Board action: The board took up the related matter as a first reading; administration indicated the item will return for a final vote at a future meeting. Several letters in the board packet (from local organizations and individuals) also urged the commissioners to oppose voting barriers.
Context and next steps: Commissioners indicated the item was a first reading and would come back for final action in two weeks. Public commenters asked commissioners also to use personal platforms and county communications to defend access to the ballot and to support nonpartisan election administration.
Ending: Commissioners did not take a final vote on the resolution at the March 17 meeting; staff will return with the item for final consideration and a separate roll-call vote.
