Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC)

Mission: To ensure that all persons in pretrial situations, individuals about to be released from prison, and those formerly incarcerated, along with their families and community members, have the opportunity and knowledge they need to exercise their right to vote in every election

The Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC) gives a voice to those impacted by the Criminal Legal System. We are a coalition of individuals and organizations — representing those who have been incarcerated and those who have not — who feel voting is empowering and powerful.  We know that any barrier to voting – whether it be logistical, informational, or lack of trust in the process – is voter suppression that we must confront.

The initiative focuses on empowering individuals impacted by the criminal legal system to participate in the democratic process. It includes community outreach to inform those with felony convictions or on parole about their voting rights, and jail outreach to educate and support pre-trial detainees in exercising their rights. The program also seeks systemic changes through advocacy, including ending prison gerrymandering in Michigan and advancing policy to allow voting in prison. Additionally, it promotes civic engagement to drive criminal legal reform at the community level.