DETROIT – The three ballot proposals appearing before Michigan voters in November are widely supported across party lines, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.
Results from a survey of Michigan voters conducted between Sept. 26-29 found that a majority of voters support the three ballot proposals on legislature term limits, voting rights and abortion rights, regardless of party affiliation.
Recommended Videos
Related: Michigan Voter Guide 2022: Get to know key races, ballot proposals before voting
Here are some of the key findings from this portion of the survey:
Proposal 1: Term limits
- Survey participants were given this description of proposal one: Proposal one would amend the state constitution to require annual public financial disclosure reports by legislators and other state officers and change the state legislator term limit to 12 total years in the legislature. (This is the opening line of the proposal.)
- A significant majority, 66.3%, of Michigan voters said they would support this proposal.
- 15.4% of voters said they would not support the proposal.
- 17.8% of voters were undecided on this proposal.
- The most opposition (20%) is among Independent voters.
- Every party affiliation supports this proposal with a minimum of 65%.
Proposal 2: Voting rights
- Survey participants were given this description of proposal two: Proposal 2 would amend the state constitution to add provisions regarding elections. This amendment would recognize the fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct. Require military or overseas ballots be counted if postmarked by election day. Provide voters right to verify identity with photo ID or signed statement. Provide voter right to single application to vote absentee ballot in all election. Require state funded absentee ballot drop boxes and postage for absentee applications and ballots. Provide that only election officials may conduct post-election audits. Require nine days of early in person voting. Allow donations to fund elections, which must be disclosed. Require canvass boards certify elections based only on the official records of votes cast. (This is the exact wording of the ballot proposal.)
- 70.3% of Michigan voters said they would support this proposal.
- 14.3% of voters said they would not support proposal two.
- 15.3% of voters were undecided.
- The most opposition (26%) is among leaning Republican voters.
- Every party affiliation supports this proposal by a margin of 60% or more.
Proposal 3: Abortion rights
- Survey participants were given this description of proposal three: Proposal 3 would amend the state constitution to establish a new individual right to reproductive freedom, including right to make all decisions about pregnancy and abortion, allow state to regulate abortion in some cases, and forbid prosecution of individual exercising established right. This amendment would establish a new individual right to reproductive freedom, including right to make and carry out all decisions about pregnancy, such as prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility. Allow state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, but not prohibit if medically needed to protect a patient’s life or physical or mental health. Forbid state discrimination in enforcement of this right, prohibit prosecution of an individual or a personal helping a pregnant individual for exercising rights established by this amendment. Invalidate state laws conflicting with this amendment. (This is the exact wording of the ballot proposal.)
- Majority of Michigan voters, 61.6%, said they would support this proposal.
- 23.6% of voters said they would not support this proposal.
- 14% of voters were undecided.
- The most opposition (51.2%) is among strong Republican voters, showing a strong partisan difference compared to proposals one and two.
- When asked if they agree or disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, a majority of Michigan voters, 65.8%, said they disagree with the decision.
- 29% of voters said they agree with the Supreme Court’s decision.
Methodology
The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a Michigan statewide survey of November 2022 likely general election voters. The 600 sample, live operator telephone survey was conducted on September 26-29, 2022 and has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. 25.9% of respondents were contacted via landline telephone. 74.1% of respondents were contacted via cell phone telephone. This survey was commissioned by WDIV Local 4 News and the Detroit News.