Preparing to Implement Potential Election Reforms: Supporting Michigan Clerks
A set of recommendations for election officials and stakeholders based on needs assessment interviews with Michigan clerks
In 2018, Michigan voters passed Proposal 18-3, the Promote the Vote ballot initiative. This ballot initiative enshrined new voting rights in the state constitution and overhauled various election procedures. The following year, the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) conducted a series of interviews with clerks from across the state to determine how they were planning to implement the provisions of the ballot initiative, and where they needed support in order to do so successfully. Based on these interviews, CTCL released Proposal 3 Implementation: Supporting Michigan Clerks, a needs assessment detailing a series of recommendations for the successful implementation of Proposal 18-3.
This year, multiple ballot initiatives have been introduced in Michigan that would similarly make major changes to Michigan election law and the rights of voters in the state. Chief among these are the Secure MI Vote and Promote the Vote 2022 ballot initiatives. In advance of the passage of either of these initiatives, CTCL conducted a new series of interviews with a diverse set of clerks from across the state to surface their thoughts and concerns about implementing each initiative. This report seeks to lift up the needs of clerks, and provide recommendations for how to address those needs in the event that either or both of these initiatives pass.