FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
June 7, 2021
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
New Poll: Michiganders Don’t Want to See Voting Rights Rolled Back
Monthly newsletter examines opinions on election laws
MICHIGAN – On Monday, Progress Michigan released the latest edition of Lake Effect, a monthly research newsletter that tracks public opinion in Michigan about a variety of policy issues and elected officials.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The election reform package being pushed by Michigan Republicans is an attack on our voting rights and an effort to take away legitimate options from voters,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The people of Michigan overwhelmingly supported expanding voting rights in 2018, and this poll makes it clear once again that we will not stand for the GOP’s attacks on our democracy. The decline in support for the GOP voter ID scheme also shows that the more people find out about what the GOP is really trying to do, the more they dislike it. The record turnout in 2020 was a win for democracy, and people across the state are ready to build on that progress together.”
Full results of the poll can be found here. Some key takeaways include:
- 48 percent of respondents support stricter voter ID laws in Michigan, while 43 percent oppose the effort, a notable decline in support from a previous Lake Effect survey.
- 58 percent of those polled strongly or somewhat support keeping the option to vote by signing an affidavit. Only 28 percent strongly or somewhat oppose keeping this option.
- 53 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat oppose potential ballot initiatives that would make voting more difficult. Just 37 percent strongly or somewhat support the idea.
- 61 percent of those polled believe the COVID vaccines are safe, while only 22 percent think they are not safe.
- 50 percent of respondents said that they would be less likely to support a gubernatorial candidate who opposed public health measures related to COVID-19, while just 24 percent said they would be more likely to support such a candidate.
- 49 percent of those polled strongly or somewhat oppose Republican-led efforts to ban teaching of critical race theory in schools, compared to 42 percent who strongly or somewhat support the bill.
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