It’s official – Michigan voters will be deciding on three ballot initiatives when they go to the polls this November.
Proposals for recreational marijuana legalization, an independent redistricting commission and a series of changes to Michigan voting law have all been approved for the ballot.
Here’s the exact language voters will be seeing, and what each proposal would do if enacted.
Proposal 1 would legalize, regulate and tax recreational marijuana. Those over 21 could use marijuana, but would still be unable to consume it in a public place or drive under the influence.
Local governments would decide whether or not to allow these businesses within their boundaries, and then the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs would regulate those businesses.
The language would also give Michigan the highest marijuana limits in the nation, allowing residents to legally carry 2.5 ounces of marijuana on their person and have 10 ounces at home.
Proposal 2 would amend the Michigan Constitution to create an independent redistricting commission. The 13-member commission would consist of five independent members, four self-declared Democrats and four self-declared Republicans.
Elected officials, candidates, lobbyists and political consultants or staffers — as well as family members of politicians or other insiders — would be barred from participating within six years of their politically-affiliated position.
The commissioners would be selected randomly from a pool of registered voters who submitted applications to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State would be required to circulate commissioner applications to 10,000 registered Michigan voters at random from various regions of the state.
Final maps for congressional and state House and Senate lines would require majority approval and support from at least two Republicans, two Democrats and two independents on the commission.
Proposal 3: Promote the Vote
Proposal 3, backed by the group Promote the Vote, is a Constitutional amendment that would implement no-reason absentee voting, give military members additional time to vote, let citizens register to vote anytime with proof of residency, allow straight party voting, protect secret ballots and require audits for election results.
Some of those amendments already exist in Michigan election law, including secret ballots and an additional amount of time for members of the military to vote.
But the initiative would add that language into the state Constitution in addition to the new changes proposed such as no-reason absentee voting and same-day registration.