Michigan voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether to approve Proposal 1, a ballot measure that would call a constitutional convention to rewrite the state Constitution. If the measure passes, 148 delegates – one from each state House and Senate district – would be elected to convene in Lansing by October 5, 2027, with the convention’s proposals returning to the electorate for final approval.
How the convention would work
Voters would first hold partisan primary elections to nominate delegates, followed by a general election to select the 148 convention members. Once seated, delegates would choose officers, set procedural rules, and hire staff. The Legislature would determine delegate compensation. No statutory requirement exists for partisan balance, though historical precedent shows a roughly even split between Republicans and Democrats.
Historical context and past attempts
The current Michigan Constitution was adopted in 1963, and voters have approved numerous amendments since then. However, a full‑scale convention has only been approved once, in 2010, when just 33% of voters (about 983,000 Michiganders) supported the measure – the highest turnout for a convention vote to date. Recent polling suggests growing interest, though exact numbers vary.
Support and opposition
Proponents argue the convention offers a chance to address structural problems in state government, streamline outdated provisions, and modernize the charter for the 21st century. Republican consultant Dennis Lennox, who led a 2010 “yes” campaign, says many ordinary Michiganders share concerns about rising property taxes and data‑center regulation, and believe a convention could provide needed reforms.
Opponents, organized under the Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests coalition, warn the convention could become a “Trojan horse” for wealthy interests and could jeopardize popular amendments such as abortion‑related protections, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, and absentee‑voting rights. Christy McGillivray of the coalition cautions that special‑interest groups have been buying elections and could use the convention to roll back voter‑approved measures.
Potential costs and logistics
The nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency estimates the convention could cost roughly $80 million, covering delegate and staff salaries, printing, and distribution of proposed constitutional text. Funding would require separate legislation, a task currently being reviewed by state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R‑Coldwater), who supports the measure and is focusing on the delegate election process and possible guardrails such as campaign‑finance disclosure.
What could be on the table?
Because the convention could consider any amendment or repeal, critics point to past proposals that would have dramatically altered Michigan’s government, including a unicameral legislature, geographic districts for Supreme Court justices, and bans on absentee voting. Supporters counter that the convention offers a democratic avenue to modernize the Constitution and address issues that have stalled in the regular legislative process.
Next steps for voters
If Proposal 1 is approved, the state will move quickly to schedule delegate elections, with the convention expected to convene by late 2027. Voters will then have at least 90 days after the convention’s final adjournment to consider the rewritten Constitution before casting a final yes‑or‑no vote in a subsequent statewide election.
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
