On Nov. 8, all Michigan voters will vote for the next governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and congressional district. Voters will also decide on three proposals focused on term limits, election access, and abortion rights. Students all across the state are begging for tangible change. Voters are demanding something in exchange for their votes. Speak out now and be heard this year!
Students have more power than ever, and they need to utilize it & this guide can serve as a point of reference when exercising the right to vote! If they have already registered to vote, one can determine their precinct and polling location by checking their voter ID card or by visiting the Michigan Information Voter Center website. Through that website, voters can search for their information by name or driver’s license number, which will determine where they are assigned to vote. The City of Ypsilanti polling locations map is also available for view.
Student Proposal Guide
Proposal 1 alters and shortens term limits, and mandates financial disclosure. More importantly, the proposal requires state lawmakers and those holding top statewide offices to disclose information about their finances that could reveal potential conflicts of interest. Under the proposed constitutional amendment, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state legislators would have to file an annual report that includes a description of their assets and liabilities.
Voting “yes” would apply a flat 12-year term limit to lawmakers’ tenure and strengthen financial disclosure rules for state elected officials, such as the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and all 148 state lawmakers.
Voting “no” allows lawmakers to serve up to six years in the House and eight years in the Senate, with no financial disclosure requirements for the state’s top elected officials.
Proposal 2 establishes at least nine days of in-person early voting, allows military and overseas ballots to be postmarked by Election Day that arrives within six days of the election to count, and enables voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future elections. Furthermore, it would establish a "fundamental right to vote" in the Michigan Constitution and bar actions that have "the intent or effect of denying, abridging, interfering with, or unreasonably burdening the fundamental right to vote."
A “yes” vote would add several changes to the Michigan Constitution, including allowing nine days of early voting and expanded access to absentee voting.
A “no” vote would reject the proposed changes and keep existing election procedures.
Proposal 3 would specifically add to the Michigan Constitution the right to seek an abortion. The proposal establishes a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy." The constitutional amendment states that the "right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, nor infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means."
A "yes" vote would write a broad new right to "reproductive freedom" into the Michigan Constitution, invaliding a 1931 abortion ban and potentially other existing regulations.
A "no" vote would leave abortion access up to elected officials in Lansing or judges, possibly resulting in the upholding of the 1931 abortion ban
This Midterm Election is a clear indication of where the state is headed in the future, and voters must act now to see the results they want! These proposals are just a fraction of the work the people of Michigan can do and corporate democrats are leaving the hard work up to us. There is so much hope here to continue to elect progressive politicians resulting in a concrete focus on the working class, women, minorities, & students.
I voted YES on Proposals 1,2, & 3!
