Michigan voters will determine whether to implement nine days of early voting and a host of other changes to state election procedures when they consider Proposal 2 at the Nov. 8 general election.

A “yes” vote would add several changes to the Constitution, including allowing nine days of early voting, expanded access to absentee voting and continuing to allow registered voters without a state ID handy to vote after signing an affidavit attesting to their identity.

A “no” vote would reject the proposed changes and keep the status quo on existing election procedures, leaving open the possibility of future legislative changes.

Known as “Promote the Vote,” the initiative was championed by a committee that submitted 669,972 signatures to the state Bureau of Elections, which recommended it met the threshold for the ballot.

Initially, the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 and failed to place the proposal on the November ballot. But the Michigan Supreme Court in September ordered the board to certify it, along with a separate initiative that would add the right to abortion to the state Constitution known as Proposal 3. 

The November ballot will include a brief summary of the proposal, but you can read the full petition here. 

Proposal 2 would amend the Michigan Constitution to: 

The coalition says the measure offers flexibility for voters to cast their ballots, make elections more accessible and ensure election security while protecting voter privacy. 

“It’s more important than ever to enhance election integrity and protect the ability of every eligible Michigander to vote, regardless of party,” said Nancy Wang of Voters Not Politicians, one of the groups backing the measure. 

Supporters say the measure would strengthen democracy by removing existing barriers to voting.

Opponents claim the measure would open the door to abuse. Republicans in general have been opposed to wide expansions of absentee voting because of security and cost concerns. Michigan has more than 1,000 jurisdictions operating elections and adding early voting would require additional work by staffers.

Republicans have also supported amending state law to include stricter identification requirements for voters. 

Critics also say the proposal would nullify several state laws, including the state Legislature’s ability to exclude incarcerated people or those of “mental incompetence” from voting.

A challenge to the petition argued the Promote the Vote language did not adequately inform voters of what sections of the Constitution the proposal would amend and should not qualify for the ballot. 

The Michigan Supreme Court rejected this argument and ordered the Board of State Canvassers to certify the initiative. In a concurring opinion, Justice Elizabeth Welch said the proposed provisions can “exist and operate in harmony” with the constitution.

The coalition supporting the ballot language is backed by Promote the Vote Michigan, the ACLU of Michigan, League of Women Voters of Michigan, All Voting is Local, and Voters Not Politicians. 

In 2018, Promote the Vote successfully pushed for other voting reform measures, allowing for automatic voter registration, obtaining early and absentee ballots and casting straight-ticket votes. 

An opposition group called Defend Your Vote was behind an unsuccessful challenge to the Promote the Vote proposal.

A separate group, Secure MI Vote, submitted signatures for a proposal to amend state law and include several measures that run counter to what’s proposed in the Promote the Vote petition.

The Secure MI Vote measure would require mandatory identification for in-person and absentee voting, prohibit absentee ballot application mass mailings and bar election funding by private groups. 

That proposal is not on the ballot but could be taken up at some point by lawmakers.

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