Michigan Campaigns Mobilize for 2026 Ballot Proposals and Signature Drives

Grassroots Initiatives Prepare for Michigan's 2026 Election Ballot

As Michigan gears up for the upcoming 2026 general election, campaigns are actively mobilizing to secure their proposals for the ballot. The initiatives span a range of issues, with several aiming to amend the state constitution and relying heavily on volunteer-led signature gathering.

Among the prominent initiatives is the Invest in MI Kids proposal, which seeks to raise taxes on high-income earners. This plan specifically targets individuals making $500,000 annually and couples earning $1 million in joint filings. Revenue generated from these increased taxes would be allocated to Michigan's School Aid Fund, intended to support career training programs, reduce class sizes, and enhance teacher retention strategies.

However, the proposal has met with criticism due to alleged ambiguity in its ballot language, prompting a deadlock at the state elections board over the approval process. Nevertheless, supporters are undeterred and intend to launch their signature-gathering campaign this weekend.

Imani Foster of the Invest in MI Kids coalition shared that the campaign has already recruited 500 trained volunteers, with nearly 1,000 more registered to assist. Foster remarked, “It’s not just getting it on the ballot. It’s also getting people to vote yes. So, we’re also spreading awareness the more we get people to sign this petition. And so, you should plan to see us pretty much everywhere across the state, at rallies, at all those kinds of things.”

The initiative's goal is to collect approximately 700,000 signatures, comfortably surpassing the required number needed to secure a position on the ballot.

In parallel, the Rank MI Choice group is advocating for the introduction of ranked-choice voting in federal and select state elections. This campaign, having started early, claims to have encountered fewer obstacles and reports enthusiastic participation from a sizeable pool of young volunteers.

Campaign director Joe Spaulding noted that many young individuals feel constrained by the current voting system and are eager for change, stating, “We’re having a lot of young people who have felt particularly trapped by the current system and their lack of choices signing up, not just to circulate the petition but thanking us for being available to them as an option, and then signing up to volunteer.”

While detractors suggest that ranked-choice voting might encourage political maneuvering behind closed doors, advocates assert that it empowers voters to select their preferred candidates rather than compromising on less favorable options. This voting system has already been successfully adopted in mayoral primaries in New York City.

Additionally, the Ax MI Tax initiative seeks to abolish property taxes within Michigan. Active since April, this volunteer-driven effort proposes to offset potential funding losses for libraries, parks, and emergency services by reallocating state funds.

As the election date approaches, voters in Michigan can also anticipate campaigns focused on changing voter ID laws and attempting to repeal recent legislation affecting minimum wage and sick leave provisions.