Citizen-only voting initiative launches in Oakland County with GOP rally for support

(Michigan Advance) Republican activists and officials from across Michigan gathered Wednesday to launch a controversial ballot initiative to ensure that only American citizens are voting in local, statewide and national elections.

The Americans for Citizen Voting initiative was recently approved by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, and on Wednesday the effort kicked off its signature gathering campaign with the aim of getting the constitutional amendment on the 2026 general election ballot.

Paul Jacob, chair of the initiative, said that the effort will let voters decide if they want only citizens voting in Michigan elections.

“There are now 14 states that have voted on citizen-only voting amendments, and all 14 states have passed them by overwhelming margins,” Jacob said. “This is not a close call.”

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Jamie Lyons-Eddy, the executive director of Voters Not Politicians, a non-partisan pro-democracy advocacy group, previously told the Advance that this effort actually threatens to roll back voting rights.

“Michigan law already requires a photo ID to vote, and federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting. Frankly, this entire narrative is nonsensical political posturing that risks disenfranchising eligible voters,” Lyons-Eddy said. ..................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2025/07/30/citizen-only-voting-initiative-launches-in-oakland-county-with-gop-rally-for-support/