Real Voters, Real Voices:

At the heart of a healthy democracy is the voice of the people. Here in Ann Arbor, Prop C is about making sure that more voters have a say in who represents our city. We asked our neighbors why they support or voted YES on Prop C—here’s what they had to say:

  • "I have always thought that it was strange to have a Primary in August when there are only Democrats running during the month when most people are out of town. Whoever wins the Primary does not have to campaign or express his/her views before November because winning is guaranteed."

    Amy, Resident

  • "I'm supporting Prop C because it's important for our community to hear diverse voices. We can only achieve that with a fair and inclusive election system at the local level."

    Jason, Resident

  • "I'm voting Yes on Prop C because I think partisan politics do not belong in our City government. Further, the City Council has passed this move twice in the past few years and the Mayor vetoed it both times. It is time for the voters to step up and do what is right for our City. Partisan politics don't belong in City Government."

    Mary, Ward 1

  • "I voted for Prop C enthusiastically. I’m alarmed by the increasing opacity and lack of diversity on city council. We need different voices willing to stand-up for all residents, not just wealthy power-players. "

    April, BIPOC Birders of Michigan

  • "I support Proposal C because it promotes small "d" democracy. The outcome will be that candidates will inform us about their approach to local policies and decision-making. Voters will have more choices. "

    Rita, Community Activist

  • "I voted "yes" on Proposal C because the use of party labels forces Ann Arbor to hold an August Primary. The consistently low turn out in August results in a very small percentage of voters selecting our city's leadership. I believe in representative government and Proposal C will help ensure this for Ann Arbor residents!"

    Frank, Resident

  • "I’ve already voted in support of C. Democracies seem to work best when more (not fewer) people vote."

    Walter, Resident

  • "The No side counts on the 12% turnout of Primary elections to greatly eliminate a wide range of voters. That's undemocratic and un-American."

    Ed, Volunteer Inmate Tutor, Lifelong Dem

  • "Yes on C! I am a pro-democracy, pro-voter person. Our elections often have uncontested candidates who don't even bother to campaign, much less return constituents' attempts to contact them. These initiatives are to permit the election of other Democrats."

    Dan, Resident

  • "A2 needs candidates who respect different voices, and who desire thoughtful, transparent governance for the benefit of all."

    Carolyn, U-M Graduate

  • "I voted YES on Prop C because I’m tired of low-turnout primaries deciding everything. It’s time more people have a voice in November when it really matters."

    Steven, Ward 5

  • "I voted YES on Proposition C. The voices of all Ann Arbor residents should count in the city’s current events and in planning Ann Arbor’s future."

    Donna, Resident

  • "Having recently gotten my citizenship and voted in other advanced democracies, I was shocked when got my primary ballot and there wasn't even a choice. Ann Arbor's system is stuck in the stone-age and I am not represented."

    Sandra, First-Time Voter

  • "I voted for Prop C to broaden options for candidates on our City Council. The fact that current Council members are fighting these propositions with bundles of misinformation illustrates the problem. What are they afraid of?"

    Dan, Resident

  • "I voted for Prop C because in Ann Arbor, stances on local issues are more important than party labels. Prop C will require candidates to communicate more about what they hope to accomplish, because voters can’t just rely on party labels to make their choice."

    Julie, Resident

  • "With A2's large student population, absentee voting hasn't been enough to close the turnout gap between primaries and general elections. Many cities in MI have similar systems (no primaries, nonpartisan generals) with no issues. More choice and more voters having a meaningful say are democratic (and Democratic) values that I strongly support."

    Dan, Lifelong Democrat

  • "Bottom line: Proposal C expands the opportunity for ALL citizens to vote and make their voices heard."

    Susan, Ward 5 Democrat (9 years)

Community Letters:

These letters come from your neighbors, local leaders, and fellow Ann Arbor residents who believe in making our local elections more inclusive, fair, and transparent. Read their heartfelt messages about why they support Prop C and how this change will strengthen our democracy by giving every voter a voice.

📝 Are Proposals C and D So Evil?

By Lori Saginaw, Community Leader & Activist
10/15/2024

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Hello Friend and Ann Arbor neighbor!

It's Lori and I'm writing to offer a few thoughts around Proposals C and D—even if you have already voted or already made up your mind. After noticing the many NO yard signs and the few YES signs, I am concerned by what I found in my research. Here are a few thoughts:

I BELIEVE I AM SEEING an established culture of cronyism in Ann Arbor that reflects the patterns of national politics. I see a NARROW GATEWAY TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT because a person must have significant financial resources to consider a campaign to run for a city office in Ann Arbor…

Read The Full Letter!

📝 Obscurity

By Bruce Laidlaw, Former Ann Arbor City Attorney
10/14/2024

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Signs have popped up on some lawns urging votes against the nonpartisan voting charter amendment on the general election ballot. The signs include a link to the this website. It is worth a trip to that website to see the level of distortions City officials are willing to engage in.

Start with the statement that Proposal C “Falsely claims to align with "99% of Michigan cities" while eliminating the August primary, turning city elections into November free-for-alls.” The truth is that only two Michigan cities, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, hold partisan municipal elections. Some of the other cities have primary elections, but others do not. There are no “November free-for-alls.” All have choices among candidates on the November ballots. Ann Arbor has no choices. The only choice here is on whether to put a check mark next to a single candidate or to write in another name….

Read The Full Letter!

📝 Community Letter

By Dave DeVarti, Washtenaw Community College Trustee
10/22/2024

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I’m writing today to urge my friends to vote YES on Ann Arbor City Proposals C and D. Proposal C changes City elections to nonpartisan and eliminates partisan city primaries. Proposal D institutes a small donor matching fund for City elections. Many of you who know me know that I’ve worked on numerous local citizen-initiated proposals starting in the 1970s. I’ve also served on City Council and Planning Commission in the 1980s and I currently serve as a nonpartisan elected trustee of Washtenaw Community College.

PROP C

In the 1990s, I was part of the coordinating committee for VINE (Voter Initiative for November Elections). Voters overwhelmingly approved moving City elections to November. When City elections were moved to November, voter participation in City elections increased several fold. An unintended consequence of that change was that primaries for City Council races were moved to early August when voter participation is very low…

Read The Full Letter!

📝 Elections In A University Town

By Bruce Laidlaw, Former Ann Arbor City Attorney
10/20/2024

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From the time of its first incorporation in 1851 until 1956 Ann Arbor was a “special act city.” Its organization was dictated by an act of the legislature. Although changes were made by subsequent special acts, one thing remained the same. Elections were held in April. When Ann Arbor was reincorporated under the Home Rule City Act in 1956, the April elections were retained. Local issues were not lost in elections full of state and federal choices.

Until a citizen initiated charter amendment was adopted in 1992, Ann Arbor had April elections for 141 years. The change to November elections was promoted as creating more democracy, but it has not worked out that way.

When I enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1959, Ann Arbor had a university student population of about 25,000. But two things prevented most of the students from having any involvement in local politics. You had to be at least 21 to vote. Also, a state law required most students to vote where their parents lived.

The closest I came to politics was when I waited late into the night for JFK to appear on the steps of the Michigan Union…

Read The Full Letter!

📝 Ranked Choice Voting

By Bruce Laidlaw, Former Ann Arbor City Attorney
10/22/2024

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Ann Arbor once had what some would now describe as ranked choice voting. At the time, it was called preferential voting. I participated in it as a voter and as an attorney for the City. I have also tried to deal with the concept when it was proposed as a recent amendment to the charter.

When students obtained the right to vote in Ann Arbor, the Human Rights party was formed. Members of the party were elected to the City Council. Then there was a mayoral election with Democrat, Republican and HRP candidates. Republican Jim Stepenson won with a plurality of the votes cast. The HRP then succeeded in getting the Charter amended to allow voters to designate second choices which would be counted if no one received a majority of the votes. In the only Ann Arbor election conducted under that system, Jim Stephenson ran against Democrat Albert Wheeler and HRP candidate Carol Ernst. Stephenson received the highest number of votes, but not a majority. So the second choice votes were counted.

When those votes were added to Wheeler’s first choice votes, he was declared elected as Mayor. Stephenson then filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the voting system…

Read The Full Letter!

Voters will also decide whether to institute Michigan’s first local Small-Donor Matching Fund in Ann Arbor.