MIDLAND—The Mackinac Center for Public Policy today announced that for the first time in history Michigan citizens have free, instantaneous access to accurate plain-language descriptions of how their state legislators voted on all legislative actions.  The Internet-based service, MichiganVotes.org, makes it easier for key decision-makers and the public at large to be active and informed in Michigan civic affairs.

"This is an unprecedented development," said Joseph Overton, Senior Vice President.  "With a couple mouse clicks citizens can learn their legislators' official positions on every issue that came to a vote.  They don't need to be lawyers because every vote is described using commonly understood terms.  It has never been this easy to monitor legislators' actions and keep them accountable."

In addition to viewing legislators' voting records, users can post their public comments on various bills and votes, sign up to be automatically notified when action is taken on legislation they are interested in, and use the site to e-mail legislators.  The website features a database of Michigan House and Senate votes searchable by legislator, topic, keyword, date range, and bill number.  The site also provides links to the text of the legislation and legislative analyses.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to equipping citizens and other key decision-makers to better evaluate policy options.