Great Lakes Wire

Restoration News has announced that Rank MI Vote is initiating a 2026 ballot proposal to amend Michigan's constitution. The amendment aims to mandate ranked-choice voting (RCV) in federal and state elections and permit local jurisdictions to adopt the system.

The initiative emerges amid ongoing discussions in Michigan about whether RCV would simplify or complicate electoral processes. According to reports, two states—Alaska and Maine—currently use RCV statewide. However, Michigan clerks have recently expressed concerns that the model could delay results, extend ballots, and complicate audits. The clerks’ association, a bipartisan entity, unanimously opposed the proposal in mid-October 2025, citing potential voter confusion and administrative challenges. Proponents argue that RCV ensures majority support winners and reduces negative campaigning, while critics highlight the costs and complexities associated with new tabulation systems.

To qualify a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot, campaigns must gather 446,198 valid signatures within a six-month period. This threshold represents 10% of the last gubernatorial vote. Following approval by the Board of State Canvassers in June 2025, supporters identified signature gathering as the next procedural challenge before focusing on broader voter education and fundraising efforts. These quantitative requirements—volume and timeline—often determine viability more than messaging does, influencing field operations, volunteer recruitment, and cash flow schedules.

Republican lawmakers have advanced House Bill 4707 to prohibit RCV statewide, reflecting organized legislative opposition. The bill has garnered support from 18 Republican sponsors and was referred to the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee as of late August 2025. The number of sponsors indicates caucus-level prioritization; procedurally, committee referral serves as a critical step before any floor action can occur. For opponents of RCV, monitoring sponsor numbers and status changes provides a tangible measure of momentum beyond rhetoric.

Rank MI Vote is a Michigan-based committee advocating for the adoption of ranked-choice voting through a constitutional amendment in 2026. The group describes itself as nonpartisan and volunteer-led, concentrating on voter education, petition circulation, and coalition outreach within Michigan while connecting with national reform networks. Its materials characterize RCV as a "simple upgrade" designed to ensure majority winners and reduce strategic voting. Operationally, the committee emphasizes trainings, events, and signature drives as essential tactics to advance the measure onto the 2026 ballot and build public familiarity ahead of implementation debates.