This year, Michigan voters have two statewide ballot proposals they will vote on in the general election. While vastly different, both could have major impacts on the Michigan Constitution and campaign finance laws in the state.
Proposal 1: Constitutional Convention
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- Under the Michigan Constitution, every 16th year after 1978, the question of holding a convention to amend the state’s constitution must be automatically placed on the general election ballot.
- If Michigan votes to hold a convention, within six months, an election would be held to select delegates, one from each Michigan Senate district and Michigan House of Representatives district.
- Next, the elected delegates would meet to decide on changes to Michigan’s constitution.
- They could either choose to make revisions, rewrite the constitution, or leave it as it currently stands.
- If changes or a rewrite is agreed upon by the convention, it would be placed before Michigan voters.
- The last time this question was before voters in 2010, 66% of people voted against holding a convention. The proposal also failed the prior two times this question was placed before voters.
Proposal 2: Michiganders for Money Out of Politics
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- This citizen-initiated proposal aims to ban political contributions from certain organizations.
- Companies with state or local contracts over $250,000 would be prohibited from donating money to politicians or related political groups.
- Regulated utilities would also be prohibited from making political contributions.
- In addition to campaign donations, the proposal would limit companies from funding ads or communications discussing issues, even if they don’t directly tell viewers how to vote.
- Should this pass, opponents of the statutory change have indicated they would file a legal challenge.
