When you get to the bottom of your ballot this November, make sure to flip it over. Two proposals could significantly affect Michigan’s future, and they’re easy to overlook.

One asks whether to open up the state Constitution for a possible rewrite, while the other would change how utilities and certain other companies can fund political campaigns.

Today, The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski breaks down five things Michigan voters need to know about Proposals 1 and 2 before heading to the polls.

P.S. The most important thing you can do right now to help shape Michigan’s future is voting, and the second most important is motivating others to also turn in their ballots.

We’re still looking for Michiganders to send in their video testimonials about what’s inspiring their vote this midterm election. Participants will be entered to win a $25 Visa gift card. See the details below.

El-Sayed, Rogers hold last Senate debate (WXYZ): Michigan US Senate nominees Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers faced off in a second, final debate before Election Day. The candidates clashed over Iran, gas prices, healthcare and El-Sayed’s proposed Medicare for All plan.

McMorrow says fake poll ‘killed’ Senate run (Newsweek): Former Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow says a fabricated poll released in June helped sink her campaign by showing her trailing Democratic rivals and losing to Republican Mike Rogers. The pollster, Wedgewood Polls, later admitted that most of its polling was based on fake data.

More than 780K Michigan ballots returned as of this week (CBS News): Michigan’s midterm election turnout has reached 10.7%, with two weeks remaining before Election Day on Nov. 3. More than 2.1 million voters have requested ballots so far, 17% ahead of the pace at this point in 2022. State officials are urging voters to return absentee ballots in person to avoid mailing delays. Early in-person voting is also beginning across the state, with most communities opening their sites Saturday.

(The ‘Gander TikTok)

There are two questions hiding on the back of your ballot this year. One could rewrite Michigan’s entire Constitution. The other could ban your electric company from bankrolling our politicians. Don’t skip them.

#1 Proposal 1 would reopen the entire state constitution. If it passes, voters would elect 148 delegates next year, one for every state house and senate district. They’d meet in Lansing next October with no set agenda, no limits on what they can touch, and no real deadline to finish their work. Whatever they try to write into our Constitution would still go back to voters for final approval. But until then, everything would be on the table.

#2 That includes abortion rights. Voters wrote reproductive rights into the Constitution in 2022. A convention could rewrite that section. Remember John James’ running mate? State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, straight up told supporters a convention might be their “only way to restrict abortion in Michigan.” To be fair, James and Right to Life both oppose a convention. But DeBoyer said what he said.

#3 The opposition to Proposal 1 is about as bipartisan as it gets. The Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, the UAW, teachers, and environmental groups, the League of Women Voters, a former Democratic congressman, a former Republican attorney general, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan have all voiced their opposition to the proposal.

#4 Proposal 2 would ban utility money in Michigan politics. It would ban DTE, Consumers, and companies with more than $250,000 a year in government contracts from donating to our state candidates. And it would force so-called dark money groups that run political ads before elections to disclose their donors. More than 560,000 Michiganders signed to put it on the ballot. Now, voters will decide.

#5 The pushback is coming from the people it targets. This one may seem obvious, but the money in politics doesn’t want money out of politics. The committee fighting Proposal 2 is funded by companies like Consumers’ parent company, and a dark money group tied to DTE. Six of its donors wrote $50,000 checks, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Comcast, and the Roadbuilders Lobby. And more than $47,000 has now gone to an attorney who helps run the dark money groups tied to both DTE and Consumers.

So what? Well, Proposal 1 decides whether to rewrite the rules. Proposal 2 decides who gets to bankroll the people writing them. So whatever you decide, flip your ballot over and don’t skip the proposals.

Get the full story in this edition of so what? Michigan.

Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini has a history of making overstated claims about non-citizen voting and seeking federal involvement in Michigan’s elections. (Anthony G. Forlini for Michigan Secretary of State)

By Lucas Henkel

During the Secretary of State debate on Oct. 8, Republican candidate Anthony Forlini said that if he is elected on Nov. 3, he will “bring transparency” to future Michigan elections by allowing the Trump administration to take an active and present role in monitoring them. 

“The more eyes, the better. I want honesty, I want true elections,” Forlini said while on the debate stage at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. The Macomb County Clerk added that he welcomes the administration’s attempts to obtain state voter rolls and proposals to send poll watchers to oversee future voting processes at Michigan polling places.

“As long as it’s according to Michigan law, the standards we have, and making sure our local clerks and whatnot are doing the job right, I’ve got no problem with that,” Forlini said. 

However, some Michiganders remain unconvinced that Forlini has voters’ best interests at heart, given his stance on election integrity in recent years and continued support for the Trump administration’s questioning of the fairness of local elections nationwide.

Forlini was one of several Michigan lawmakers who promoted conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud during the 2020 US presidential election. Claims from these “election deniers” have been debunked in several studies, including an investigation by the Associated Press that identified fewer than 500 potential cases of voter fraud amongst the 25 million votes that were cast across six battleground states, like Michigan, in the 2020 presidential election.

By Abby Deatrick

Are you ready to cast your ballot and “Party at the Polls?” The Party at the Polls movement aims to transform the voting experience and increase voter turnout through community and celebration. Events usually take place near polling places with free food, music, and other activities to make voting a fun, collective, and empowering experience.

Rallies, gatherings, and walks to the polls are planned across Michigan on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Head to a party and cast your ballot, or come out to celebrate.

📣 Have an event to add? Email Abigail Deatrick, The ’Gander’s state organizing coordinator, with details. Please send submissions at least one week before the event.

📬 Was this forwarded to you? Sign up to get This Week in Michigan Politics in your inbox every week.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Kyle Kaminski, Lucas Henkel, and Abby Deatrick. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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