Over the weekend with the sun high in the sky, dozens gathered in Marquette Commons holding various protest signs all with the same message – march on for voting rights. 

The March On for Voting Rights held two events in Michigan, one in Detroit with the other being held in Marquette. The event was to raise awareness for voter’s rights and was held on the 58th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I have a dream” speech.

The Marquette event featured several speakers including Jenn Hill, mayor pro tem of Marquette, Freddy Sims, leader of the nonprofit Social Justice for Us and Bob Anderson who is serving as the local coordinator for Voters Not Politicians.

While Hill was not speaking on behalf of Marquette on Saturday, Hill still spoke on the importance of voting with her own story about Ida B. Wells. Wells was an African American journalist who fought for the rights of African Americans to become full citizens.

“The reason that we’re coming together today is, unfortunately, people are trying to limit voting when in fact the residents of Michigan in 2018 voted overwhelmingly to increase the ability to vote and make it so that more people could have their voices heard,” Hill said. “So that’s why I’m here today to have more people make sure that more people have their voices heard so that we don’t go, we don’t fall back.”

In 2018, Michigan voted on Michigan Proposal 3 which passed at 66.90%. The proposal added eight voting policies to Michigan Constitution including straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting. According to Michigan Advance, over the summer, Michigan Senate passed three bills that would restrict voting rights in the state as part of a larger Republican-led package intended to overhaul election laws.

Julia Forrest, contributing writer for Michigan Advance, said the Michigan Senate Elections Committee voted on three bills that could reform voting procedures to mandate photo identification being presented when applying for an absentee ballot or casting a ballot. All bills passed 3-1 and moved on to the full Senate.

By creating new restrictions for voting, those who are eligible may become discouraged to vote. For college students who are sending in absentee ballots, these new bills could prevent college students from voting if they are living out of range of their home ballot location.

Gary Hausman, a protester for the March On for Voting Rights, said that using your voice is constitutionally relevant. For Hausman, not allowing people to protect their vote means they have no voice and without their voice, there is no representative democracy.

“Without a representative democracy, we no longer have a country, then we have dictatorship, plutocracies, you name it,” Hausman said.

Hausman looks back on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and recalls how huge that time was. Now with the current pushback with voter’s rights, Hausman restates just how important the people’s voice really is.

“So it’s important for the control and the power to be with the people,” Hausman said. “And the only power we really have is our vote. So that’s our voice and I’m here to support them.”

While Marquette is home to many, college students make up a large portion of the community with NMU bringing in young people from all across the world, some of those people being first-time voters. Marge Forslin, March On for Voting Rights local planning committee and co-leader said that having the event in Marquette where NMU is, helps college students feel supported when it comes to voting. 

“College students are usually newer voters, and we think it may be reassuring to them to know that so many others so strongly value voting and that they are in good company when they will do their civic duty by voting,” Forslin said. 

Those who have never voted before may not know where to start when it comes to supporting. Forslin said that NMU students should march with the community and participate in groups that support the just equitable inclusion of people regardless of their differences. 

“Speak up for fair, honest practices in any situation and VOTE in every election for the best proposals and candidates–candidates with values that respect and honor all citizens,” Forslin said.

Priscilla Burnham, vice president of the League of Women Voters, said one of the ways that the League of Women Voters spreads awareness to the younger voters is by going into the high schools to talk about voting.

“Our theme is your vote is your voice,” Burnham said. “We’re hoping to be able to get into some of the high schools to talk to the young people that are going to be voting, many of them turning 18, and get them to register to vote and understand how important it is to vote.”

While there are no future plans as of now, Forslin said that those who are looking to participate in similar civic-minded groups in the community can look into Social Justice for Us and League of Women Voters. Men are eligible to join the League of Women Voters and currently do so in Marquette. Above all, Forslin said that those who are not yet registered to vote should do so and when the time comes to do so vote.