Can Michigan have Ranked Choice Vote … Here Is Where We Are Now

dearbornblogadmin's avatar dearbornblogadmin on September 5, 2025

Excerpt: Michigan is on the cusp of a historic decision: should voters be able to rank candidates instead of picking just one? Grassroots organizers are now collecting signatures for a 2026 constitutional amendment while Lansing politicians move to ban the reform. Here’s the lay of the land—what ranked-choice voting (RCV) is, where it’s already in use, why several Michigan cities have voted for it, and what it could mean for Dearborn and communities like ours.

“The campaign for ranked choice voting will make our system more—not less—democratic.” —Rank MI Vote interview on WDET, Sept. 4, 2025. WDET 101.9 FM

What RCV is (and isn’t)

Ranked-choice voting lets you rank candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). If no one wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots move to the next ranked choice. The process repeats until a candidate clears 50%. Think of it as combining a general election and a runoff into one trip to the polls. NCSL+1

RCV isn’t new or niche. Two states (Maine and Alaska) use it statewide and dozens of cities and counties use it locally. FairVote’s tracker counts 50+ jurisdictions and nearly 14–16 million voters reached by RCV in recent cycles. FairVote

A quick way to visualize it: major sports awards (like the Heisman) use ranked ballots for fair outcomes when many contenders split votes.

📊 Stat callout: RCV’s national backdrop (2024–2025)

  • 17 states now ban RCV (as of Aug. 2025), after a wave of prohibitions in 2024–25. BallotpediaBallotpedia News
  • Yet legislators also filed dozens of bills to allow or expand RCV this year (most didn’t pass). Ballotpedia

Where Michigan stands today

Many Michigan cities have voted for RCV…

Voters in Ann Arbor (2021) approved a charter amendment to use RCV for mayor and council when state law allows it. Ballotpedia

In November 2023, Kalamazoo, Royal Oak, and East Lansing passed local RCV ballot measures. Bridge Michigan summarized it plainly: implementation requires a change in state law. Bridge MichiganMichigan Advance

And yes, Ferndale voters actually authorized RCV back in 2004—they’ve simply been waiting for the green light from Lansing. Ballotpedia

“East Lansing, Royal Oak and Kalamazoo voters support ranked-choice voting… Implementation of the system would require a change in state law. Ann Arbor and Ferndale passed similar measures in previous years.” Bridge Michigan

…but state law still needs to catch up

Michigan’s election code and certification rules (administered by the Board of State Canvassers) don’t currently enable local governments to run RCV on state-approved voting systems. That’s why cities that want it are waiting on enabling legislation or a constitutional change. Michigan

Michigan’s one notable exception: Eastpointe’s 2019–2020 city council elections used a multi-winner form of RCV (single transferable vote) as part of a U.S. DOJ Voting Rights Act settlement to improve fair representation for Black voters. It worked as a court-approved remedy—and it’s an important Michigan proof of concept.

The 2026 statewide push (and the counter-push to ban it)

A new citizen campaign—Rank MI Vote—has launched a constitutional amendment aimed at putting RCV on the November 2026 statewide ballot. The group says it is now in the signature-collection phase, with field launches around the state (Holland’s LAUP Fiesta, Ann Arbor Art Fair, and more). Michigan Advance

Media coverage indicates the campaign is targeting ~611,000 signatures to create a cushion above the legal minimum (the constitutional bar is 10% of the votes cast for governor in the last election; the exact number is set officially for the cycle). Bridge Michigan

“How are leaders behind ranked choice voting responding to this political fight—and what’s their plan to get it on the 2026 ballot?” —WDET’s The Metro with Rank MI Vote (Sept. 4, 2025). WDET 101.9 FM

At the same time, the Michigan House (GOP majority) has advanced a bill to ban RCV statewide. Sponsors openly describe it as a response to the petition drive—but acknowledge that a voter-approved constitutional amendment would supersede the ban. Michigan Advance+1

Bridge Michigan reported that several Michigan cities have already voted for RCV and that House Republicans introduced the ban as Rank MI Vote’s drive “gears up.” Bridge Michigan

What the amendment would likely do

While the final text will be what matters, reporting so far says the proposal envisions using RCV for most major elections (including federal and statewide), and allowing voters to rank at least five candidates in single-winner races (or “four more candidates than seats,” whichever is greater). Votebeat

Why reformers like it:

  • Majority winners without expensive, low-turnout runoffs.
  • More choice without “spoiler” panic—voters can back new voices first and still weigh in on the final two.
  • Less negative campaigning (you may want to be someone’s second choice).
  • Representation that can improve for communities that have struggled under winner-take-all at-large rules (Eastpointe’s DOJ remedy is instructive). FairVote

What critics say:

  • Complexity/education costs—election offices must invest in voter instruction.
  • Tabulation transparency—some opponents argue the rounds are confusing.
  • Ballot exhaustion—ballots can “run out” of ranked candidates before the final round if voters do not rank enough options. NCSLVotebeat

What this could mean for Dearborn (and communities like ours)

Dearborn’s electorate is vibrant, multi-lingual, and multi-party. In crowded nonpartisan fields (think mayoral or council races), RCV can consolidate the election into one higher-turnout contest while ensuring the winner has a true majority coalition—often across communities and neighborhoods.

For Arab-American and other historically under-represented voters, RCV can reduce vote-splitting among community-preferred candidates. That’s not theoretical; Eastpointe adopted a proportional RCV remedy specifically to address minority vote dilution.

From a Green Party perspective (a core part of Dearborn Blog’s readership), RCV lowers the temperature of “spoiler” accusations and welcomes issue-driven campaigns—including Palestine-aligned, anti-AIPAC, and anti-genocide voices—without punishing voters for supporting their first choice. That’s a healthier debate for everyone, including Democrats, Republicans, independents, and third-party voters.

“Instead of telling voters to ‘hold their nose,’ RCV lets communities rank their ideals first and still coalesce around a majority in the final count.” —Dearborn Blog editorial stance, paraphrasing common RCV research. FairVote

How we got here: Local momentum, state bottleneck

  • Ann Arbor (2021): voters approved RCV, but the measure is contingent on state law changing. Ballotpedia
  • Kalamazoo, Royal Oak, East Lansing (2023): all three approved RCV; implementation awaits Lansing. Bridge MichiganMichigan Advance
  • Ferndale (2004): RCV approved years ago—waiting since. Ballotpedia
  • Eastpointe (2019–2020): used proportional RCV under a DOJ settlement to address vote dilution—an on-the-ground Michigan example that RCV can work.

Meanwhile, House Republicans just advanced an RCV ban, portraying the reform as confusing. Even supporters concede voter education is vital—and it is. But as WDET highlighted today, advocates are proceeding with field organizing, training, and a clear plan to qualify for 2026. Michigan AdvanceWDET 101.9 FM

The rules of the game: How a statewide amendment qualifies

Under the Michigan Constitution (1963), Article 12 §2, an initiated constitutional amendment must gather signatures equal to 10% of the total votes cast for governor in the last election. After filing, the Board of State Canvassers verifies signatures and adopts ballot language. (The exact numerical threshold is official for each cycle; campaigns often overshoot to build a cushion.) Michigan

“Michigan’s petition process is governed by the Michigan Election Law and overseen by the Secretary of State and Board of State Canvassers.” —Michigan Bureau of Elections guidance. Michigan

What to watch between now and November 2026

  1. Petition drive mechanics. Rank MI Vote is in the field now. Expect volunteer trainings, campus drives, and event-based collecting (think festivals and art fairs). Michigan Advance
  2. Lansing’s ban bill. Even if a ban passes, a voter-approved constitutional amendment would override it. Still, a ban could complicate local pilots and timelines. Michigan Advance
  3. Ballot language & court fights. After filing, expect challenges to petition form, summary wording, and possibly the scope of the amendment. The Board of State Canvassers and courts have the final say here. Michigan
  4. Costs & equipment. The Board must certify voting systems and software for tabulating RCV. Clerks will need voter-education budgets and bilingual materials—especially important in Dearborn. Michigan
  5. Campaign messaging. Opponents will lean on “confusing and partisan” talking points; supporters will emphasize “majority winners, more choices, less negativity.” Readable explainers from NCSL, Reuters, and FairVote help voters cut through the noise. NCSLReutersFairVote

Dearborn’s lens: Why this matters here

Dearborn is the capital of Arab America—a community that cares deeply about fair representation and issues of war, peace, and justice. RCV won’t decide those issues by itself, but it changes incentives: it rewards coalition-building across community lines, encourages candidates to seek second-choice support, and makes it safer for voters to support new or independent voices without fear.

We’ve seen what happens when large fields split overlapping constituencies. RCV helps ensure the winner reflects a broad majority, not just a plurality. That’s good for Dearborn, Hamtramck, Detroit, and cities across Michigan with diverse electorates and multilingual voters.

“Every day people rank their choices… The question is whether Michigan will let cities that want RCV actually use it.” —coverage of Michigan local RCV adoptions. Ranked Choice Voting Maryland

From our Dearborn Blog point of view—pro-democracy, pro-Green Party platform, pro-Palestine, and sincerely pluralist—RCV is a tool that lowers the barriers for candidates who challenge the status quo. That includes Greens and independents who oppose endless war spending and AIPAC’s outsized influence. RCV lets voters express those values honestly while still helping to choose the final majority winner.

Pull-quotes you can share

“Michigan voters—not politicians—should decide whether we can rank our choices.” Bridge Michigan

“Cities from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo already said ‘yes’ to RCV; Lansing should let them use it.” Bridge Michigan

“RCV gives Dearborn room to vote our values first and still unite around a majority.” FairVote

How to learn more (and get involved)

  • Rank MI Vote interview (WDET, Sept. 4, 2025) — strategy and timeline. WDET 101.9 FM
  • Bridge Michigan on the statewide initiative and the anti-RCV bill. Bridge Michigan+1Bridge Michigan
  • Michigan Advance on the House hearing and signature kickoff. Michigan Advance+1
  • NCSL and Reuters RCV explainers. NCSL+1Reuters
  • FairVote on how RCV works and where it’s used. FairVote+1
  • DOJ Eastpointe case (Michigan’s real-world RCV remedy for fair representation).
  • Bureau of Elections on ballot proposal rules and Board of State Canvassers. Michigan

Sources (live links)

Bottom line (Dearborn Blog)

RCV won’t solve every problem in Michigan politics, but it gives voters more voice and makes majorities matter. For Dearborn, it’s a practical way to reduce vote-splitting, encourage issue-based campaigns, and create bridges across communities. Whether you’re Green, independent, Democrat, Republican—or none of the above—RCV asks the right question: who can build a true majority?

We’ll keep following the petition drive, the legislative counter-moves, and what it all means locally. In a democracy worthy of Dearborn’s values, voters should get to decide whether we can rank our choices

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Published by dearbornblogadmin

Dearborn Blog is a space for the diverse voices of the great city of Dearborn to be heard. Dearborn is a city rooted in innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity, tolerance, and building the American Dream. Dearborn Blog aspires to capture that spirit.

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