Updates About Ballot Proposals

Three bits of Michigan election news have come out recently. First, Republican Gubernatorial candidate, Mike Cox, announced he was ending his campaign and endorsing John James. In his press release the former Attorney General claimed President Trump’s endorsement of James all but sealed the GOP primary race, which until then had been a three-way competition.

Next, the Michigan Bureau of Election announced that the Michiganders for Money out of Politics proposal had been recommended for certification by The Board of State Canvassers. The Board then approved the petition proposal by a 3-1 vote after the submitted signature sample passed the review process by a margin of nine signatures.The Board will now decide on the language of the proposal and give the Michigan legislature an opportunity to pass the proposal. If the legislature decides not to pass the proposal then it would be on the ballot and in the hands of the voters in November.

If passed by the electorate the petition would bar certain public utilities and large government contractors from making political contributions.

Lastly, Governor Whitmer made the decision to endorse Congresswoman Haley Stevens’s campaign for U.S. Senate. The endorsement comes a week and a half before the August primary when Democratic voters decide the candidate that will face off against the Republican Mike Rogers in November. Stevens lone opponent is the former public health professional and progressive Abdul El-Sayed who has the backing of national progressive figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The Michigan Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, August 4th.

After a quiet 2024 election cycle with no statewide ballot proposals, early indicators suggest Michigan voters will face several proposals in 2026. At a minimum, they will be asked whether to convene a constitutional convention—a question required every 16 years by the Michigan Constitution, and one voters have consistently rejected in the past. Meanwhile, new petition drives are already underway, including a proposed constitutional amendment that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. The proposal echoes recent national conversations and has sparked debate, with supporters citing election security and critics warning of potential barriers to voting.

Additional proposals could also make the ballot if enough signatures are gathered. These include efforts to expand Michigan’s Bottle Bill, introduce ranked choice voting, and remove the dormant ban on same-sex marriage from the Constitution. Some groups are also eyeing potential referendums or amendments on taxes and minimum wage. With over 440,000 valid signatures needed and stricter rules around how they’re collected, getting a proposal on the ballot won’t be easy or cheap. Still, if even a few proposals make it through, this would signal that ballot issues are back in a big way for Michigan voters.

Three petitions were withdrawn following outcomes of the 2022 election. Let MI Kids Learn withdrew its two initiative petitions and Secure MI Vote withdrew its one petition on December 28, 2022. The Secure MI Vote ballot initiative would have made a law requiring identification to vote, while the Let MI Kids Learn ballot initiatives would establish a scholarship program to provide grants to low-income students for education expenses and allow those who donate to claim tax credits.

Both initiatives were circulated with the expectation that the Republican-led House and Senate would vote them into law, but the signatures were filed after the deadline that would put the initiatives on the 2022 ballot, pushing them out to the 2024 ballot. With a Democratic trifecta in Lansing, the initiatives likely would have been defeated or ignored by lawmakers, especially after the passage of Proposal 22-2 which enshrined voting measures into the state’s constitution.