New legislation in the state house would make election days holidays.
Regular election days in May, August, and November would become state holidays.
Supporters of the legislation say that making election days a holiday would help turn out the vote.
Democratic Representative Darrin Camilleri introduced the measure. He said there have been efforts to suppress the vote both in Michigan and across the country.
“That’s why we had to see citizens rise up and put ballot initiatives on the ballot to expand voting rights to end gerrymandering,” he said. “It’s the only way we’ve been able to get around our currently gerrymandered legislature.”
Camilleri said it will be difficult to pass the legislation.
“I don’t necessarily believe it is in the best interest of people in the legislature to expand voting rights,” he said. “This should not be a partisan issue. Expanding the right to vote should mean that we then just have to compete on our ideas - we don’t have to cheat the system.”
Camilleri said having a holiday on election day will help residents find the time to vote, and will let them know when an election day is occuring.