Petition Michigan

Multiple petition drives gearing up in the Mitten

Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers (est. 1850) has been busy throughout late spring reviewing numerous petition proposals that state residents are likely to see when we are out and about in public this summer. Here are a few of the petition drives being reviewed and my views on their substance.

RANK MI VOTE

Summary: Constitutional amendment to guarantee voters in Michigan the right to: rank candidates in order of preference in most federal, state, and certain local elections; require that candidates for major offices receive a majority of votes to be elected; receive timely notice of changes to polling places or voting procedures; cast a ballot if in line at the time polls close; use secure and accessible paper ballots in all elections, preserved for certification, recounts, and audits; vote for eligible write-in candidates not listed on the ballot; participate in primary elections held at least 140 days before the general election.

The case for: Proponents of this initiative claim that ranking candidates in order of preference, rather than selecting only one, creates more choices for voters and more opportunities for candidates and alternative political parties. See RankMIvote.org

Against: Opponents claim that ranked-choice voting makes elections more confusing and increases the burden on voters to learn about prospective candidates, as well as burdens on election administrators. See StopRCV.com

My view: Opening elections to more candidates and political parties and giving voters more choices is worth the costs.

CITIZEN ONLY VOTING

Summary: Two petition drives are developing proposals to amend Michigan’s constitution to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. According to reporting by Hayley Harding for Votebeat Michigan, “the two initiatives are similar: Both would require new voters — and possibly currently registered voters — to prove their U.S. citizenship, and both would eliminate the option for voters who lack a photo ID to sign an affidavit attesting to their identity.”

The case for: Some pundits have pointed to recent, isolated instances of fraudulent, non-citizen voting as justification for these amendments, while those who have been committed to the cause for longer have cited municipalities in California and Maryland explicitly extending voting rights to non-citizen residents for local elections. Organizers behind these petition drives say that voting rights should be exclusively for citizens. See committeetoprotectvotersrights.com and onlycitizens.vote

Against: Opponents worry, again according to reporting from Harding, that “requiring voters to show documentary proof of citizenship threatens to disenfranchise eligible voters, especially those who have trouble accessing their documents.” See commoncause.org/michigan/work/stop-hjr-b/

My view: Given that fraudulent, non-citizen voting is already illegal and prosecutable in Michigan and that proposed legislation to open up more elections to non-citizens has not risen to any prominence here, this seems like a solution in search of a problem.

VOTERS TO STOP PAY CUTS

Summary: A PETITION for a referendum election to repeal Public Act 1 of 2025, which reduced the minimum wage for Michigan tipped workers, established a new schedule for increasing the state minimum wage, and changed the way future inflation adjustments for minimum wage increases will occur.

The case for: Proponents are continuing a battle that traces back to 2018, when a petition drive to raise the state minimum wage and extend paid sick leave rights to more low-wage workers collected hundreds of thousands of signatures. The state legislature used loopholes to adopt a weakened version of the proposal and bypass the ballot. See raisethewagemi.org and onefairwage.org

Against: The Michigan Chamber of Commerce says that raising the minimum wage, the tipped minimum wage, and extending more paid sick leave benefits will hurt small businesses. See michamber.com/news/here-we-go-again-new-ballot-proposal-aims-to-put-minimum-wage-issue-back-on-ballot/

My view: Raise the wage.

Other petitions Michiganders may encounter include the by now familiar “AxMITax” petition and another by a group called “Invest in MI Kids” which appears to propose funding education through wealth taxes.

What are your views on these petitions? Leave a comment and weigh in!