Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women are the original conservationists and, as our sporting-conservation heritage is threatened by a growing number of ballot-box biology initiatives, it is imperative that hunters, anglers, and trappers participate in the political process. Ensuring that each license purchaser that is eligible to vote is provided with a registration opportunity stands to strengthen the voice of the constituents most knowledgeable about fish and wildlife – sportsmen and women.
Highlights:
- Michigan House Bill 4136 was voted favorably 9-0 out of the House Committee on Election Integrity.
- The bill would require that resident purchasers of hunting, fishing, and fur harvester’s licenses be provided with a voter registration application.
- As an organizational policy priority, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) provided testimony in favor of the bill, and will continue to encourage its passage as the legislative process continues.
Last week, the Michigan House Committee on Election Integrity unanimously voted House Bill 4136 out of Committee, sending it to the House floor for consideration. The bill, which has support from members of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, would require that resident hunters, anglers, and trappers be provided with a voter registration application while purchasing a license.
Sportsmen and women are a critical voice in the political process, and this has become increasingly true in recent election cycles. Around the country, extreme animal rights groups have orchestrated ballot initiatives that are devoid of science-based wildlife management and instead stand to strip state fish and wildlife agencies as well as sportsmen and women of their ability to properly manage and pursue game species. Ensuring that more hunters, anglers, and trappers are stepping into voter booths would strengthen the constituency’s understanding of conservation issues, thereby better protecting fish and wildlife species and our pursuit of them.
In the voting booth, the fishing boat, and the hunting blind, participation by sportsmen and women is critical to the continued success of American conservation. CSF will continue to support House Bill 4136 in Michigan and similar legislation around the country.
