State canvassers approve 100‑word summary for ranked‑choice voting amendment

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on June 27 approved a 100‑word summary submitted by the Rank My Vote committee for a proposed constitutional amendment to allow ranked‑choice voting in specified elections beginning in 2029.

Supporters told the board the summary fairly describes the measure and its scope. Olivia Flower, an attorney for the Rank My Vote committee, said, “The rank my vote proposal would amend the Michigan constitution to confirm the right to ranked choice voting and to allow for ranked choice voting for certain federal and state offices.”

Opponents urged the board to include more specific information about how ranked‑choice tabulation affects ballots and result timing. Eric Doster, a public‑comment speaker opposing the measure, warned the change “causes harm to the voting process. Ballots in the ranked choice voting system are more complex,” and raised concerns about “inactive” or “exhausted” ballots that can stop counting in later rounds.

Board members and counsel also debated technical points: whether the summary should say exactly which offices would be affected, how the proposal’s language interacts with existing constitutional provisions about primary dates, and whether a deputy director may act in place of the director when preparing a petition summary. Advocates asked that the summary make clear the amendment would permit local jurisdictions to opt in and that implementing legislation and funding would be required.

After questions from canvassers, the board voted to approve the summary and later approved the petition form conditioned on replacing the summary on the petition with the text the board adopted at the meeting. The board’s votes on the summary were recorded as approved by the majority present.

The board also noted procedural items raised during debate: lawyers for both sides pointed to MCL 168.482(b), the statutory standard for petition summaries, and to the practice that the director of elections normally drafts the summary language. The deputy director participated in drafting while the director of elections was on leave; that arrangement drew public comment but the canvassers proceeded with their statutory duty to act within the 30‑day window.

The board’s action clears the way for Rank My Vote to circulate petitions with the board‑approved 100‑word summary; petition sponsors may still revise the petition language and return to the bureau before final form approval if they choose.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the petition summary for the Rank My Vote constitutional amendment and later approved the petition form for circulation, conditioned on the summary replacement and other standard form checks by staff.