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Michigan House passes bill to prohibit ranked-choice voting statewide and locally
Summary
The Michigan House approved House Bill 4707 on a roll-call vote, banning ranked-choice voting in local, state and federal elections in Michigan; debate featured sharp disagreement over local control and election administration burdens.
LANSING — The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4707 on a 57-44 roll-call vote on Aug. 19, 2025, moving to prohibit the use of ranked-choice voting in city, township and statewide elections.
Proponents said the bill was needed to protect what they called the integrity and clarity of Michigan elections. Representative Shriver, sponsor of the bill, argued that ranked-choice voting “is not the future of the American republic. It is a distraction,” and warned it could produce winners who did not have majority support of first-place votes.
Opponents framed the legislation as an overreach that would strip local voters of decision-making power. Representative Sternoglu said, “When someone talks about banning something that's already banned, you have to ask what else is going on?” and urged colleagues to “respect the right of Michigan communities to make their own decisions.” Representative Bolin, a former clerk and elections committee chair, supported the ban and said, “Ranked choice voting is not easy, it is not simple, and it does not ensure that 1 person only has 1 vote.”
The bill advanced from second reading with no amendments and was placed on immediate passage by a motion on the floor. Following the roll-call vote, the House recorded 57 ayes and 44 nays; the majority leader’s motion to give the bill immediate effect was ordered.
The debate referenced broader national activity around ranked-choice voting, with members citing recent state and local actions. The sponsor noted that a number of states and voters have rejected ranked-choice voting in recent years; opponents emphasized recent local referendums in Michigan where voters had adopted the system.
No amendments or committee changes were recorded on the floor during the second- or third-reading consideration. The House clerk announced the final tally on the record, and the bill passed under the terms recorded on the House floor.
Votes and procedural steps recorded in the House journal show the bill was advanced to third reading, placed on immediate passage, and the chamber ordered immediate effect after final passage. The legislation will proceed according to legislative process for enrollment and transmission to the Senate or governor as applicable.
