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HB 5969

Elections: voters; state voting rights act; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5970'26, HB 5971'26, HB 5972'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Arbit and 35 co-sponsors

Michigan Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in voting access and empowers courts to order remedies (redistricting, polling places, hours) to protect protected classes.

bill electronically reproduced 05/13/2026
#civilprocedure:classactions #civilrights:other #elections:electionofficials #elections:voters #elections:votingprocedures #localgovernment:other #stateagencies(existing):attorneygeneral #stateagencies(existing):civilrights
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5969

Overview

HB 5969 (Michigan, 2025-2026) proposes the creation of a State Voting Rights Act aimed at protecting and expanding the right to vote for all electors, with a focus on ensuring equal opportunity for individuals in protected racial, color, or language minority groups. The bill establishes a framework of prohibitions, remedies, funding, and judicial tools to address voting rights discrimination and to remedy disparities in voting access.

Main purpose and intent

  • Recognize and enforce protections for the right to vote under Michigan’s 1963 constitution, equal protection, and related civil rights freedoms.
  • Promote maximum citizen participation in elections and ensure protected classes have equal opportunities to vote and to have their preferred candidates represented.
  • Provide a comprehensive set of measures to prevent discriminatory voting practices and to address disparities in voting access and participation.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Sec. 3): Establishes terms for alternative election methods (e.g., proportional ranked-choice, cumulative voting), at-large vs. district-based methods, disparity, protected classes, racially polarized voting, and voting-eligible populations.
  • Prohibitions on discriminatory practices (Sec. 7): Local governments, state agencies, and officials may not take actions that create disparities in participation or voting opportunities for protected classes. The section enumerates circumstances that would constitute impairment of equal opportunity (e.g., closing or relocating precincts, polling places, or language-access services in ways that disproportionately affect protected classes).
  • Remedies and court power (Sec. 9, 23): Courts can order a wide range of remedies if a violation is found, including redistricting, changing voting methods, adding polling places or voting sites, altering election days/hours, or imposing punitive damages. Courts may retain jurisdiction up to 10 years to prevent recurrence and may require preapproval of future voting-related policies in some cases.
  • Administrative procedures and enforcement (Secs. 13, 15, 21): Prospective plaintiffs must notify local governments of alleged violations and may engage in a pre-suit planning process. If unresolved, actions may be filed in circuit court or court of claims. The secretary of state plays a coordinating role and may refer enforcement to the attorney general.
  • Disabled electors and monitors (Secs. 24, 25, 6): Establishes a process to address violations involving rights of disabled electors, including potential court-appointed monitors to oversee compliance for up to 10 years and pre-election monitoring and reporting duties.
  • Funding and cost recovery (Secs. 15, 17, 26): Creates the Michigan Voting Rights Assistance Fund to reimburse eligible plaintiffs and local governments for certain costs associated with remedies and guidance. Reimbursements are capped (initially up to $50,000, adjustable for CPI) and subject to caps and timelines.
  • Procedural safeguards (Secs. 27, 28): Expedited pretrial and trial procedures for voting-rights cases; guidance from the Secretary of State to local officials; and required timely posting of guidance and updates.

Affected parties and impact

  • Local governments (counties, cities, townships, villages, school districts, community colleges, libraries, and other public bodies) would be subject to anti-discrimination duties and potential remedies.
  • State agencies and officials, including the Secretary of State and Attorney General, would play enforcement and oversight roles.
  • Protected class members (racial, color, or language minorities) and disabled electors would have enhanced procedural rights and potential remedies when voting rights are impaired.
  • Plaintiffs (individuals or entities) could initiate actions and seek remedies, with potential reimbursement through the new fund.

Timelines and procedural aspects

  • Pre-suit notification and plan negotiation required (Sections 13 and 24).
  • Remedies and potential court-imposed changes implemented on a schedule with possible judicial preapproval.
  • Expedited handling for voting-rights cases (Section 27) to allow timely relief for upcoming elections.
  • Funding provisions for reimbursement apply to costs incurred during the remedy process, with annual CPI adjustments.

Note: The act includes enacting clauses that tie its effectiveness to passage of related companion bills (HBs 5970-5972 in the same session).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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