Voters Not Politicians volunteers are enthusiastically rallying around the opportunity to ensure secure, modern, and accessible elections by amending our state constitution. On January 31st, we announced our participation in the Promote the Vote 2022 initiative. Just over a week later, we already have more than 530 people signed up to circulate the petition, and new volunteer leaders are stepping up across the state.  Conversations with voters over the past year show that Michiganders want a voting system that works for all of us. This initiative will move Michigan forward by taking steps to make elections more accessible and more secure. When we get Promote the Vote 2022 on the ballot, the people will support it, because it ensures every Michigan voter can make their voice heard and that their vote is counted. You can read more about Promote the Vote 2022 and VNP’s role in the effort below.  At the same time, we are hard at work defending the redistricting process and producing evaluation materials that will help Michigan and other states with the implementation of independent redistricting in the future. We are fighting anti-voter legislation and ballot initiatives, educating voters around the state, and holding our legislators accountable.  Our work has never been more important. There is no other nonpartisan group with the grassroots energy of Voters Not Politicians. We are showing the rest of the country how regular citizens can stand up for our democracy – and win.  Thank you for your support of this critical work!  Jamie Lyons-Eddy Deputy Director Voters Not Politicians and Voters Not Politicians Ballot Question Committee IN THIS ISSUE VNP joins powerhouse coalition to Promote the Vote in 2022 Michigan’s New Maps Have Been Adopted… Now What? ICYMI – VNP is Making Headlines We’re Hiring! A Popcan and a Penny for Your Thoughts How you can stay involved UPDATES FROM THE FIELD VNP joins powerhouse coalition to Promote the Vote in 2022 On January 31, the groups that brought landscape-changing democracy reforms to Michigan in 2018 announced a new collaboration: Promote the Vote 2022.  Voters Not Politicians, in partnership with Promote the Vote, ACLU of Michigan, the League of Women Voters of Michigan, APIA-Vote and Detroit Action, announced a new constitutional amendment ballot initiative. The initiative picks up where the 2018 Promote the Vote constitutional amendment left off; it will not only protect Michigan voters from current and future election threats, it will also expand voting access and modernize our election systems.  Click here to learn what you can do to support PTV 2022! Michigan’s New Maps Have Been Adopted… Now What? The MICRC adopted their final maps on December 28, but the redistricting process isn’t over. Several groups have brought lawsuits (as expected), and those will be resolved in the coming weeks or months. Meanwhile, under the Constitution, the MICRC must issue a report by February 26 to show its homework. Among other things, the Commission must explain how the maps meet the constitutional criteria, including complying with the Voting Rights Act, respecting the state’s diverse COIs, and passing tests for partisan fairness. Click here for an update on the pending lawsuits! ICYMI: VNP MAKING HEADLINES ‘Promote the Vote’ ballot initiative launches to protect voting rights in Michigan (January 31, 2022, MLive.com) Michigan petition seeks 9 days of early voting, funds for absentee ballots (January 31, 2022, Bridge Magazine) New constitutional amendment could nullify GOP-led efforts to restrict voting (January 31, 2022, Michigan Advance) Michigan groups seek 9 days of early voting, kill Legislature-adopted petitions (January 31, 2022, The Detroit News) Promote the Vote launches 2022 ballot proposal to increase accessibility of voting (January 31, 2022, Detroit Free Press) Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative would protect voting rights in Michigan, organizers say (January 31, 2022, Yahoo) Read petitions before you sign them, group warns (January 31, 2022, MLive.com) Voters Not Politicians slams Secure MI Vote over signature gathering (January 29, 2022, Bridge Magazine) Critics say petition campaign lying to get signatures (January 28, 2022, WCMU-FM) Watch Bridge’s Lunch Break discussion on Michigan’s new redistricting maps (January 26, 2022, Bridge Michigan) Secure MI Vote petition makes voting harder, we need real improvement (January 22, 2022, Yahoo) Trump campaign officials, led by Rudy Giuliani, oversaw fake electors plot in 7 states (January 21, 2022, CNN) Ohio Supreme Court redistricting decision: Read Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor’s opinion (January 12, 2022, Yahoo) North Central Michigan College announces winter luncheon lecture lineup (January 6, 2022, Petoskey News Review) Michigan redistricting spat exposes competing interests in Democratic coalition (January 6, 2022, The Hill) January 6 may be only a preview of a deeper democratic rupture (January 5, 2022, CNN) Reader questions Secure MI Vote petition (January 3, 2022, Big Rapids News) PEOPLE-POWERED We’re Hiring! VNP is gearing up for a busy campaign this year and we are looking to fill several positions across the state including a Communications Director and several Regional Organizers. Please feel free to share the job postings with any interested candidates. Though, act quickly because we are looking to hire ASAP. Click here for a list of our open positions and information on how to apply! A Popcan and a Penny for Your Thoughts: Betsy Robbins Reflects on the Prop 2 Campaign With our new Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiative campaign underway, it’s fun to look back on, and take inspiration from, what made our Prop 2 campaign in 2018 so successful. Most VNP volunteers will recognize Betsy Robbins who gained notoriety on the 2018 campaign trail for her fun and entertaining songs to educate Michiganders about redistricting reform. Betsy looks back on her time with VNP fondly and supports the organization as a monthly sustainer. Click here to read about Betsy’s fondest memories from the campaign trail! UPCOMING EVENTS Pro-Democracy Phone Bank, Tuesdays, 6pm-8pm, through March 29th.  All times are listed in Eastern Standard  TAKE ACTION How you can stay involved, and help make structural democracy reforms Join our volunteer ranks. We need you more than ever! Make a donation to show your support. A strong democracy that puts voters – not politicians – first is more important now than ever before. Monthly recurring donations are especially important to keep VNP strong and help us plan for the future.  Sign up here to be part of the Dial for Democracy (DFD) legislative advocacy team, and make sure you have opted in to receiving emails from VNP.