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Secretary Benson presents voting rights testimony before U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Michigan Advisory Committee

DETROIT – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Michigan Advisory Committee during a Public Briefing on Civil Rights and Voting Rights in Michigan.

Benson focused her testimony on accessible hours and times for voting, barriers to voter registration, public education and access to election information, and transparency and integrity in government.

The public briefing, which included testimony from government officials, academics, and community members and advocates, was in Detroit at the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at Wayne State University Law School, where Benson previously served as dean. The committee is examining the extent to which state voters have equal access to exercise their right to vote regardless of race, color, disability status, national origin, age, religion and/or sex.

Benson opened her testimony by recognizing the recent death of Judge Damon J. Keith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and his decades spent protecting individual liberties and battling systemic racism in corporations, municipalities and schools. She noted it was fitting for the public briefing to be at the law school, which houses the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights.

“It is difficult to imagine a world without Judge Keith in it,” Benson said, “but his legacy lives on through the people he has inspired to work in service of others and for equality and justice for all.”

Read Benson's complete testimony

 

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Media Contact: Shawn Starkey - MDOS-Press@Michigan.gov