Martha Gonzalez-Cortes, vice president for Community Investment at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) is among those recently appointed by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to the newly-created Election Modernization Advisory Committee.

Gonzalez-Cortes joins other committee members from across the state who are Michigan-based voting rights advocates; county, city and township clerks; and local and national election experts.

The advisory committee will advise Michigan's Secretary of State and the Department of State's Bureau of Elections on the implementation of Proposal 3 and further election reforms. Approved by voters last November, Proposal 3 requires changes to state election laws, including the option of absentee voting for any reason, automatic voter registration, and the ability to register up to and on Election Day.

The committee will also provide consultation on the launch of online voter registration passed by the state Legislature last year, along with poll worker recruitment training and other challenges involving elections.

Gonzalez-Cortes, one of 25 committee members, has been with KZCF since 2017, and previously served as community relations director at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and prior to that as CEO of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and as state director for the Office of Migrant Affairs.

"I'm honored to serve on this innovative committee," says Gonzalez-Cortes. "Providing increased equity to our democratic process will make a significant difference in engaging people throughout our state. The goals of this committee also align perfectly with our work at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation."

Kalamazoo Community Foundation, established in 1925, has the mission to make life better for all through leadership and stewardship of resources that last forever, and the vision of a community where every person can reach full potential.

Click here to read the official press release from Michigan.gov Newswire.

Posted Feb. 22, 2019