A proposal to shift Dearborn’s City Council to a ward-based representation system faces a major hurdle as nearly 50% of petition signatures were rejected — prompting alarm from community leaders, especially in Arab and Muslim circles.
The grassroots group Dearborn Wants Wards says the city’s signature verification process disproportionately flagged names common in their communities as duplicates, without accounting for cultural naming patterns, multi-generational households, or nonstandard spellings. Organizers argue that such methods unfairly discount legitimate voices and erode trust in the political process.
“It’s not just about ballots — it’s about belonging,” said one campaign member. “When our names are discarded, our voices are too.”
Now, with a July 29 deadline looming, the group is back on the ground, working to collect at least 1,300 additional signatures to get the measure on the ballot.
The push for a ward system is aimed at improving local representation, particularly for neighborhoods that feel underserved under the current at-large format.
📍 Source: The Detroit News – July 18, 2025
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