FACT SHEET COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in Michigan

The document highlights the intersection of public health disparities and voting access in Michigan, arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates urgent reforms to the state's election processes. It specifically calls for scaling up vote-by-mail (VBM) capacity, improving ballot verification and correction procedures, and establishing early in-person voting centers to protect voters' health and ensure representation, particularly for marginalized communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

• Michigan faces a significant challenge in preparing for a surge in vote-by-mail (VBM) for the 2020 elections, as only 25 percent of votes were cast by mail in 2016.
• The document identifies a link between political underrepresentation and public health disparities in Michigan, noting that the state legislature is elected from some of the most gerrymandered districts in the country, which contributes to widespread environmental injustice and health disparities.
• COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black communities in Michigan; while Black people make up one in seven residents, they account for approximately one-third of confirmed cases.
• The author argues that the current process of sending VBM applications to registered voters, rather than providing ballots directly, creates a costly additional layer that may increase racial, age, and partisan disparities.
• To improve electoral integrity and access, the document recommends that Michigan establish voting centers for registration and ballot submission at least two weeks before Election Day, provide postage-paid envelopes, and implement a system where voters are notified of ballot verification issues within two to three days.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2020). FACT SHEET COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in Michigan. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/covid-19-votiing-reform-mi.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. FACT SHEET COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in Michigan. 2020. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/covid-19-votiing-reform-mi.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=FACT SHEET COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in Michigan |date=July 2020 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/covid-19-votiing-reform-mi.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2020fact, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{FACT SHEET COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform in Michigan}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/covid-19-votiing-reform-mi.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }