In order to implement Proposal 3 of 2018, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson convened the Election Modernization Advisory Committee. Passed last November, Proposal 3 make significant changes to the state’s election laws, including the establishing no-reason absentee voting, automatic voter registration, and the ability to register up to and on Election Day. The advisory committee will provide input, suggestions, and feedback on the execution of the reforms. Additionally, the commission will review topics such as the launch of online voter registration passed by the Legislature last year, poll worker recruitment training, and advising on solutions to current challenges involving elections.

Members of the committee include county, city, and township clerks from across the state, Michigan-based voting rights advocates, and local and national election experts. Former Michigan Director of Elections Christopher Thomas will lead the newly formed advisory committee. The committee will be staffed and facilitated by the Michigan Bureau of Elections and other staff from the Secretary of State’s office. Those named to the committee include:

• Tripp Adams, attorney, Michigan chapter lead for the Truman National Security Project and chief operating officer of Rochester Hills-based Emagine Entertainment
• Jackie Beaudry, Ann Arbor city clerk
• David Becker, attorney, executive director and founder of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research in Washington, D.C.
• Mary R. Clark, Delta Township clerk
• Sharon Dolente, attorney, voting rights strategist with the ACLU of Michigan
• Martha Gonzalez-Cortes, vice president of community investment at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation
• Rachel Huddleston, publications/communications associate for Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service Inc.
• Elizabeth Hundley, attorney and Livingston County clerk
• Mary Kotowski, St. Clair Shores city clerk
• Benjamin Marentette, Traverse City clerk
• Amber McReynolds, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Vote at Home Institute
• Tammy Patrick, senior advisor to the elections program at the Democracy Fund
• Whitney Quesenbery, co-director of the Center for Civic Design
• Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County clerk and register of deeds.
• Joe Rozell, Oakland County director of elections
• Matt Singer, partner at Impactual, implementation lead for the Center for Secure and Modern Elections, and founder of National Voter Registration Day
• Khalilah Spencer, equity and social responsibility partner at Honigman LLC
• Julia Stonestreet, Spring Arbor Township clerk
• Chris Swope, Lansing city clerk
• Natalie Tennant, manager of state advocacy on the Brennan Center for Justice’s Voting Rights and Elections and former West Virginia secretary of state.
• Robin Troyer, Sault Ste Marie deputy city manager and city clerk
• Nancy A. Waters, Muskegon County clerk
• Matthew Weil, senior associate director of the Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center
• Janice Winfrey, Detroit city clerk

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