✅ Grassroots Victory: Ann Arbor Voters to Decide on Election Reform

August 6, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grassroots Victory: Ann Arbor Voters to Decide on Election Reform

Ann Arbor, MI – In a significant stride for local democracy, the Ann Arbor City Clerk has certified enough voter signatures to place two pivotal election reform proposals on the November ballot. Supported by over 150 dedicated volunteers, a coalition came together to champion these initiatives aimed at revitalizing local elections.

The proposals aim to establish nonpartisan elections and create a Fair Elections Fund for local campaigns. "When we saw no one was running for office and that primary turnout was often in the single digits, we knew something had to change," said John Godfrey, a former assistant dean at the University of Michigan and spokesman for the coalition.

The nonpartisan elections proposal will align Ann Arbor with over 80% of US cities and the entire state of Michigan, removing party labels from ballots and encouraging voters to focus on candidates’ qualifications and ideas. This reform has been adopted by numerous peer cities like Austin, Berkeley, and Cambridge, and has proven to boost voter participation. For instance, Los Angeles saw a 20% increase in voter turnout after adopting nonpartisan elections.

Nonpartisan elections open the door for more diverse candidates and give voters a broader choice. They eliminate the gatekeeping role of political parties in the primary process, enabling candidates to run based on their merits and ensuring that local officials are elected by a wider segment of the population that better represents the will of the people.

The Fair Elections Fund proposal, a first in Michigan, seeks to address the prohibitive cost of running for office, which has nearly tripled since 2018.  “Money has become a barrier for anyone without connections to deep pockets,” Godfrey noted. The Fund will match small donations to candidates who reject PAC money and adhere to strict contribution limits, so that elections are contests of ideas, not cash. Similar initiatives in cities like Denver and Portland have successfully reduced special interest influence.

The Fund will be supported by an annual allocation of three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) of the city’s general fund budget. Candidates who agree to accept much lower contribution limits and not take money from PACs, corporations, or other organizations will qualify for a 9-to-1 match for small donations of up to $50 from Ann Arbor residents and taxpayers. This reform is designed to amplify the voices of ordinary citizens and diminish the sway of big money in local politics.

Brenda Millett, an 80-year-old volunteer, emphasized the initiative's long-term vision: “I worked on the petition drive to make Ann Arbor better, not for myself, but for future generations.”

Proposals for charter amendments require signatures from 5% of Ann Arbor’s voters. The City Clerk confirmed that volunteers gathered more than 5,800 qualified signatures for each proposal, exceeding the number required for certification.

If approved, these charter amendments will take effect in 2025, with ordinances establishing the necessary rules and safeguards. This historic vote represents a significant step towards more inclusive and representative governance in Ann Arbor.

For more information, visit:

Nonpartisan election: https://www.a2nonpartisan.com/

Campaign finance reform: https://www.a2future.com/