Michigan's county clerks have unanimously opposed a ballot proposal to implement ranked choice voting in the state. The Michigan Association of County Clerks, a bipartisan group, expressed concerns about potential delays in election results, voter confusion, and conflicts with existing state laws. Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons emphasized the importance of timely election results, stating, "Delayed results erode the public’s trust by fueling uncertainty and misinformation" according to Michigan Advance.
Rank MI Vote, the group behind the proposal, argues that ranked choice voting would allow voters to rank candidates by preference, potentially reducing negative campaigning. They claim that 79% of jurisdictions using ranked choice voting release results within 24 hours. However, the clerks believe the system could complicate ballots and delay results.
The proposal aims to establish ranked choice voting for federal and state elections starting in 2029. Five Michigan municipalities have already approved ranked choice voting measures but have not implemented them due to legal conflicts. As the debate continues, the clerks' opposition highlights the challenges of changing Michigan's voting system according to WOODTV.