When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, whispering words of wisdom: it's Fat Bear Week

Across the state, pay for election inspectors can range from less than $175 a day to more than $300. That means two people doing the same job just a few miles apart might take home dramatically different paychecks. From @hayleyharding.bsky.social w/ @votebeat.org

There's no set pay scale for poll workers in MI, & no obligation for workers to serve in the community they live. That can be tough for clerks, who have to compete with stable jobs (and the town next door offering free lunches) when it comes to attracting workers. www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

Would anyone like some sleepy bunnies in these trying times

Burning yourself on steam feels so stupid every time "oh sorry the air was too hot for my tender sensibilities"

Intentionally lying about elections could draw a fine under a new bill proposed by Michigan Senate Democrats. Story by @hayleyharding.bsky.social and @votebeat.org michiganadvance.com/2025/09/15/m...

MICHIGAN POLL WORKERS!!!! DROP US A LINE!!!!!!

I'm working on a story for @votebeat.org about poll worker pay in Michigan and I'd very much like to talk to someone who has worked as a poll worker in a town that they don't live in. Is that you? Please email me at [email protected]!

Do you use Google to find the latest news and information about voting and elections? Want to make sure you can see Votebeat's coverage? Head to the link to add Votebeat as a preferred source, and we'll show up in your Search tabs more often. Thanks for being a reader! www.google.com/preferences/...

New at @votebeat.org: MI is willing to share the public voter rolls with the federal gov't, just as they'd share it with anyone who filed a FOIA. But the DOJ hasn't responded to the state's request for access to the portal they need to actually share the giant file. votebeat.org/michigan/202...

Just picked fresh basil from my garden, on account of being better than everyone else on earth, and now my hands smell soooooo good

It’s been more than 200 days since residents of Michigan’s 35th District have had a state Senator, prompting growing and bipartisan complaints over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s refusal to call a special election to fill a vacant seat. Story from @jordynhermani.bsky.social & @hayleyharding.bsky.social

Came outside to work and the temperature is perfect and the tomatoes are gorgeous and there is a monarch caterpillar bebopping around and I'm not sure I'll ever understand people who want to be in an office full time

ICYMI, from Michigan: Many voters could benefit from a ballot in Arabic, but the law isn’t on their side, via @hayleyharding.bsky.social . Story: www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

While Arabic is spoken all over Michigan, and is one of the most commonly spoken non-English languages in the U.S., there’s no Michigan or federal law that requires ballot translation into Arabic for people who would benefit from it. From @hayleyharding.bsky.social w/ @votebeat.org

I put a camera up in my backyard so I could check when my flowers need to be watered without getting up and now I get motion notifications for things such as "the birds are having a party" or "mommy groundhog showing baby groundhog around the clover"

I'm going to need you to talk to me with the respect owed to someone with GIANT peonies blossoming in her yard

Senate Republicans want to sell 3 million acres of public land The majority of public land is too fire prone and far away from communities to even make sense for housing, research shows. www.hcn.org/articles/sen...

Without a doubt my favorite part of buying concert tickets in the last few years is having to go through all five stages of grief twice before you get anything in your cart

Michigan Democrats introduced their first pieces of legislation to respond to what they consider overly aggressive Republican proposals to improve election security. From @hayleyharding.bsky.social w/ @votebeat.org

Every day I go to feed my bunnies lunch and I ask them "do you know anyone who might like some adult rabbit food?" This is funny to me personally because 1. they cannot speak and 2. No one else in our house would like adult rabbit food

MI Dems have introduced some new bills to counter Republican proposals to require proof-of-citizenship in the state's elections. But these don't quite address that, instead focusing on "low-hanging fruit" as additional details are hammered out. For @votebeat.org: www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

The universe knew I needed two judgmental cat-sized creatures to silent watch court hearings with me and pretend they aren't begging for treats

The full brief is here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/25... And our @votebeat.org earlier story on the injunction is here: www.votebeat.org/2025/04/24/t...

Tuesday is Election Day — again — in Michigan. Here’s why. From @hayleyharding.bsky.social w/ @votebeat.org michiganadvance.com/2025/05/06/t...

Learned how to use a power tool this weekend (hedge trimmer) and now I'm unstoppable

The House considered HJR B — the ballot question that could require proof of citizenship for future voters — today. It fell short of the 2/3 majority needed, but it's far from dead. For @votebeat.org: www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

From @hayleyharding.bsky.social w/ @votebeat.org A University of Michigan student accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election is facing a bench warrant after failing to appear in court for a hearing Thursday.

A University of Michigan student accused of noncitizen voting now has a warrant out for his arrest after he missed a hearing yesterday. New for @votebeat.org: www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

A beautiful woman named "Your holds are available at the Detroit Public Library" won't stop calling me

Do people who don't get a headache every time a storm system nears know how powerful they are? How charmed their lives must be?

🗓️ Mark your calendars! On May 14, join us for a conversation about the practical realities of requiring documented proof of citizenship for elections. You'll hear from Secretaries of State Adrian Fontes of Arizona and David Scanlan of New Hampshire. RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/checking-c...

From late last week: We are one step closer to seeing a proof-of-citizenship initiative on the ballot in 2026. I sat through Friday's lengthy meeting where state canvassers workshopped the language for @votebeat.org: www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

Good morning! Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. here in Lansing, but this room is already packed with people on both sides of the proof of citizenship issue. I'll update as we get started.

Later today many gorgeous intelligent fun people around the state will receive what is best known as "The Votebeat Michigan Newsletter." It will feature election news. It will feature a bunny. The news WILL be contextualized and the bunny WILL be cute. Come get it! www.votebeat.org/michigan/sub...

This creature is in my house even as we speak

My favorite part of Real Housewives is knowing what they order at every restaurant and bar and group dinner. Hell YEAH pair that fish with Brussels sprouts (no dressing) and tequila on the rocks you insane woman

New on @votebeat.org: Trump's executive order on voting is the latest in a series of attacks on military and overseas voters, experts told me. www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

Scoop: The White House is choosing to censor some White House pool reports. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/white-hous...

And @hayleyharding.bsky.social is covering the legislative effort in Michigan. www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

The U.S. House this morning is considering the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Right now, people must attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. Voting rights groups warn many people would struggle to provide the required proof.

A filing with SCOTUS shows that Gov. Whitmer, Sec. Benson and Director Brater will not be filing a formal response in the Lindsey case More on the Lindsey case, in which 11 state lawmakers are asking SCOTUS to allowing them to sue over voter-approved ballot measures www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

A GOP push to require proof of citizenship from people registering to vote is on the verge of passing the House, and has become law in some states. Pay attention to how it's gone in Arizona, where voters are getting caught up in glitches. www.votebeat.org/arizona/2025...

From last week: 15 additional noncitizens cast ballots in the Nov. 2024 election, state officials said after a review — more than a dozen of those people are now being referred for further investigation www.votebeat.org/michigan/202...

Feels like a perfect opportunity to share my photo of Puff using his sister as a pillow immediately after grooming

The thing they don't tell you about audiobooks is that sometimes you'll be peacefully listening while driving out and about and then something DEVASTATING will happen and you just have to KEEP OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE like NOTHING IS WRONG

Michigan finds 15 noncitizens may have voted in 2024 election amid citizenship verification debate via @hayleyharding.bsky.social with @votebeat.org michiganadvance.com/2025/04/03/m...

I used to be cool and fun but now I'm 29 and have new light switch plates being delivered today and in my excitement, I've told multiple people about it

While ICE agents can note in their database if someone they’ve investigated turns out to be a citizen, they are not required to do so. As a result, records are often wrong and left uncorrected even after agents have been told of a mistake. By @nicolefoy.bsky.social

The last time I bought stamps was in February 2020 when I bought like 250 for wedding invites I never got to send (lol) So you can imagine my SHOCK when I finally ran out of that 250 and had to go buy stamps for the first time in half a decade and they now cost 73 CENTS EACH