LANSING, Mich. – Michigan voters oppose Proposal 1 by nearly 3-to-1, according to a new statewide poll of 600 likely Michigan voters released on Thursday by the Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests ballot question committee.
Results of the poll conducted Oct. 2-6 among 600 Michigan likely general election voters by Patinkin Research Strategies also showed 61% of respondents said they would vote NO on Proposal 1 compared with 22% who would vote for it.
Representatives of Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests appeared with officials from some of the state's most prominent advocacy organizations, including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Education Association (MEA), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan and Citizens for Traditional Values - Michigan, to showcase the risks of a Constitutional Convention and urge voters to vote NO on Proposal 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“Proposal 1 faces substantial opposition, and that resistance remained strong even after voters heard arguments on both sides of the issue,” said Ben Patinkin, partner and president of Patinkin Research Strategies. “Voters also say they haven't recently come across information about the ballot measure. That makes continued public education especially important as Election Day approaches.”
The poll, which has a reported margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, shows a 39-point gap between opposition and support for Proposal 1. Opposition remained strong after respondents heard arguments on both sides of the issue, with 66% saying they would vote NO and 23% saying they would vote for it. The survey also revealed 62% of respondents reported they had not recently seen, heard or read about Proposal 1.
Also at Thursday’s press conference, the ballot question committee unveiled “One Michigan,” its newest digital ad as part of its campaign to urge Michiganders to vote NO on Proposal 1. The question about whether to convene a Constitutional Convention, also called a Con-Con, automatically appears on the ballot as the first question every 16 years.
The campaign has reached more than 2 million registered Michigan voters through digital advertising, social media partnerships, direct mail and earned media.
The campaign’s outreach efforts are focused on educating voters about the potential consequences of a Constitutional Convention, including the uncertainty it could create for Michigan’s business climate and economy. Business leaders have emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and avoiding unnecessary disruption as the state works to attract investment and support economic growth.
“Michigan employers need predictability and regulatory consistency to invest, grow and create jobs,” said Wendy Block, executive vice president of business advocacy for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “A Con-Con could create years of uncertainty and gridlock at a time when our state can least afford it. We need to be coming together to tackle Michigan’s biggest challenges – from economic competitiveness and workforce needs to education and affordability. We have important work to do to build a stronger Michigan for businesses, families and communities – a Con-Con would be a costly distraction.”
A Con-Con could create significant uncertainty for Michigan’s education system, raising concerns about changes to school funding and education policy that could have a negative impact on learning, said Doug Pratt, director of public affairs for the Michigan Education Association (MEA), which represents school employees across Michigan and advocates for quality public education for students and the rights of its members.
“A Constitutional Convention could put school funding, education policy and the future of our neighborhood public schools at risk.” Pratt said. “Our students deserve a constitution that protects opportunities to learn, not one that opens the door to diverting public tax dollars away from neighborhood schools that serve every community.”
The ACLU of Michigan, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free speech and other rights and protections, noted that Michigan voters have spent years strengthening constitutional protections and fostering equal justice under the law.
“A Con-Con could put at risk the fundamental rights and freedoms Michiganders have fought hard to put in our state constitution,” said Merissa Kovach, political director for the ACLU of Michigan. “Our constitution should safeguard the rights of every Michigander, and a Con-Con could open the door to rolling back those hard-won protections.”
Eileen McNeil, president of Citizens for Traditional Values – Michigan, emphasized the potential implications for religious liberty, parental rights and the stability Michigan families depend on.
“While it may look appealing to use this to change things regarding safeguarding life and allowing educational choices for parents, letting it be done through a Constitutional Convention is the wrong solution and could create years of uncertainty and disruption," McNeil said. "There are no provisions for transparency in those meetings, or thresholds on spending or requirements for reporting. That does NOT bode well for our voices to be heard. Constitutional Convention would open the Pandora’s Box and bring added uncertainty, division and disruption to our state.”