Kalamazoo residents approve ranked choice voting charter amendment on November ballot

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 7, 2025, featured significant discussions on local governance and community initiatives. One of the most notable public comments came from Jeff Messer, a Kalamazoo resident and volunteer with the "Rank My Vote" campaign. Messer highlighted the successful implementation of ranked choice voting in Kalamazoo, where voters approved a city charter amendment with 71% support in November 2023. He announced plans to launch a statewide petition drive to amend the Michigan constitution for ranked choice voting, seeking 611,002 signatures from registered voters. Volunteers are being recruited for this effort, and donations are also encouraged to support the campaign's operational costs.

The meeting also addressed routine administrative matters, including the approval of a consent agenda, which passed unanimously after a roll call vote. Additionally, the commissioners discussed an amendment to the Kalamazoo County sanitary code related to the KL Landfill Groundwater Restricted Zone Expansion, which also received unanimous support.

In new business, the board considered a request from the prosecuting attorney's office to eliminate and create positions for legal assistance and support investigators. This proposal aims to enhance the efficiency of the prosecutorial process.

Overall, the meeting underscored ongoing efforts to engage the community in electoral reform and address local governance needs, with the next steps for the ranked choice voting initiative set to begin shortly after Memorial Day.