Detroit voters will encounter four distinct initiatives on their ballots this Nov. 3, requiring decisions on issues ranging from state constitutional changes to local institutional funding.
Michiganders statewide will vote on whether to hold a constitutional convention, often referred to as a “con-con,” to revise the state’s foundational governing document. This question is mandated to appear on the ballot every 16 years. The proposal asks voters to decide if "a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?"
A "yes" vote would favor initiating the process of rewriting the state’s constitution. Elected representatives from across the state would spend months, or potentially longer, redrafting the entire document. However, approving a convention does not guarantee constitutional changes; the final document would still need voter approval in a subsequent yes-or-no vote to replace the existing constitution. While no official campaigns have formally registered support for a constitutional convention with the state, several prominent Republican legislators have indicated their backing.
Conversely, a "no" vote would mean leaving the state’s constitution as it is currently written. A significant effort is underway to encourage voters to reject the convention. The group Protect MI Constitution From Special Interests, comprising various business and voting rights organizations, has reported raising over $860,000 to oppose the convention. Additionally, numerous candidates from both major parties running for office this fall also stand against convening a constitutional convention.
Another statewide initiative proposes new regulations for campaign finance. This initiated law aims to prohibit certain entities and individuals—specifically regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and those with substantial connections to these utilities or contractors—from making direct or indirect contributions to political candidates. It also seeks to apply existing campaign finance laws and regulations to additional categories of political communications.
A "yes" vote on this proposal would enact it into Michigan law without requiring a governor's signature. Overturning or amending this law would be more challenging than a typical statute, requiring a three-quarters vote from each legislative chamber. The committee advocating for this measure has reported raising over $7.3 million, with significant contributions from progressive groups such as the Massachusetts-based All Hands on Deck Network, which donated more than $3 million, and the Washington, D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund, which contributed $700,000.
Voting "no" on this proposal would prevent it from becoming state law. The opposition group, Protect MI Free Speech, has raised over $570,000, primarily from business interests. Donors to this effort include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Comcast Financial Agency Corp., CMS Energy (known for its subsidiary, Consumers Energy), and several other prominent business groups, each contributing at least $65,000. Michigan Energy First, a group closely linked to DTE Energy, also provided $50,000, according to campaign finance reports.
Locally, voters in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties will consider renewing a millage for the Detroit Zoo. First approved in 2008 and last renewed in 2016, this 0.1-mill property tax supports zoological services through the Wayne County Zoological Authority. These funds are allocated for animal care for over 2,000 animals across 200 species, educational and senior programs, and facility maintenance at the Detroit Zoo. This renewal is not a new tax and would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $10 per year over a 10-year period. Funds will be disbursed to the Zoological Authority and transferred to the Detroit Zoo as permitted by law, with an estimated $6,145,462 expected to be collected in its first year. The ballot question for Wayne County asks, "Do you approve the renewal and restoration of the levy of 0.10 mill on all taxable property in Wayne County for a period of ten (10) years, from 2028 through 2037?"
Finally, the Detroit Historical Society and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History are jointly seeking voter support for a new operating millage in Wayne and Oakland counties. Following years of financial challenges, these two institutions launched the “Yes to Our Story” campaign for a 10-year, 0.2 mill levy. This tax would amount to $30 annually for the owner of a home valued at $300,000. In return, residents of both counties would gain free admission to the Wright Museum and the Historical Society, which encompasses the Detroit Historical Museum in Midtown and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. Currently, free admission is only provided to small children and museum members. The millage would also fund free transportation for students and seniors, new curriculum development, teacher training, and permanent protection for the publicly-owned collections of both museums. Details regarding the provider of transportation services are still under discussion. The ballot question asks, "Shall a 0.2 mill tax on all taxable property located within Wayne County be imposed by the Authority for a period of ten (10) years, being years 2026 through 2035, inclusive, to provide historical museum services for the benefit of the residents of the Counties?"
