(WWJ) There were a slew of ballot proposals for voters in Metro Detroit to decide on on Tuesday. Let's take a look at how they did.
First, the statewide proposals:
Proposal 1 — Constitutional Convention Question: Rejected
Michigan voters soundly rejected Proposal 1, shutting the door on calling an elected convention to overhaul the state’s 1963 constitution. The automatic ballot question surfaces once every 16 years, giving residents a regular chance to decide whether Michigan's founding document needs a ground-up rewrite.
Voters resoundingly chose to leave it alone, siding with a broad coalition of civil rights, labor, and voting advocacy groups. Opponents warned that opening up the entire document would invite political turmoil and put hard-won protections—including voting rights and citizen ballot initiatives—at risk.
Proposal 2 — Campaign Finance & "Money Out of Politics" Initiative: Approved
Michigan voters approved Proposal 2, passing a citizen-led initiative to curb political spending and pull big corporate money out of Lansing. The measure bars regulated electric and gas utilities—as well as major government contractors holding more than $250,000 in state work—from donating to state candidates, officeholders, or party committees, while ending corporate-funded travel and meals for politicians.
It also targets digital "dark money" by mandating clear "paid for by" labels on online political ads and closing the "issue ad" loophole, forcing outside groups that mention candidates or ballot issues to disclose their donors.
The so-called "Money Out of Politics" proposal passed with about 80% of votes in favor. But, that ballot measure is going to see a legal fight. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy said it's filing a lawsuit in federal court to block it from ever going into effect.
The pro-business think tank is filing the suit on free speech grounds, saying that Prop 2 steps on the speech rights of non-political entities.
Detroit Zoo millage renewal: passed
Voters across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties decisively backed the Detroit Zoo’s 10-year millage renewal, keeping a 0.1-mill property levy in place with broad tri-county support. According to tallies Wednesday morning, the measure won roughly 75% in Wayne County, 71% in Oakland County, and 69% in Macomb County.
The voter-approved continuation costs homeowners about $10 annually per $200,000 of market home value without raising tax rates, providing a sustained funding stream that underwrites roughly one-third of operating costs for the Royal Oak zoo grounds and the Belle Isle Nature Center.
Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director and CEO Hayley Murphy noted the renewal provides vital financial stability to safeguard daily operations and support comprehensive care and conservation efforts for more than 2,000 resident animals.
Detroit museum millages: passed
The millage that will make admission to popular museums free for Oakland and Wayne County residents got a green light from voters--
It impacts the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. All three museums will offer free admission for residents of both counties from today through Sunday... and then after the millage takes effect. It will also help with operating costs, allowing the museums to keep a full staff and longer hours.
It's estimated to cost taxpayers about $30 per year, based on an average home with a taxable value of roughly $150,000–$200,000.
It passed with about 60% of the vote.
Police and fire millages: passed
Police and fire millages, previously struck down by voters in the August primary, found new success on Tuesday in several Metro Detroit communities. Millages were voted down in Orion, Waterford, Highland, Independence, Brandon, and Sumpter townships.
All of those communities decided to put them back on the ballot for the general election, and all of them passed this time around.
In Orion Township, voters passed police and fire renewals, along with a small millage for fire equipment.
Supervisor Chris Barnett said the millages were able to pass this time thanks to a big push to get information out to voters.
"The credit goes to the people that came out yesterday," Barnett told WWJ Newsradio 950's Luke Sloan. "We had record turnout. And, look, we've been working really hard since August to educate our residents, explain the importance of these public safety millages, and we are very grateful — that's the word. Grateful for the support, grateful to be able to continue providing these great services, continuing being one of the safest communities in our state."
Barnett says if the millages weren't passed, the police and fire departments would've run out of funding by the spring, and there would be no services for residents.
Other local proposal results of interest
- Macomb County Veterans' Millage: Passed overwhelmingly with around 79% voting "Yes" to 21% voting "No". This renews the 0.069-mill property tax to fund services, financial aid, and administration for local veterans and their families.
- Macomb County Public Transportation (SMART bus) Millage: Passed decisively with 65% voting "Yes" to 35% voting "No". This replaces the expiring levy with a 5-year, 0.94-mill tax to sustain SMART fixed-route, Flex, and paratransit bus services across the county.
- Flint Township will not get a new name: Failed. Voters rejected a proposal to rename the township to Oak Hills. Supporters of the idea wanted to distance themselves from the city of Flint and the water crisis and crime. Voters defeated the idea by about two thousand votes.
- Dearborn Public Schools Bond Proposal: Passed. Voters in Dearborn and parts of Dearborn Heights decisively passed a major 20-year, 3.14-mill school bond proposal by roughly 68% to 31% to fund widespread infrastructure upgrades and modernizations across district facilities.
- Pontiac roads proposal: Passed. Get read to see road construction barrels in Pontiac. Voters have approved a measure that allows the city to borrow up to $75 million in bonds to build new streets in neighborhoods across the city.
Get your local election results online:
- MACOMB COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- OAKLAND COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- CITY OF DETROIT ELECTION PAGE
- STATE OF MICHIGAN ELECTION PAGE
MORE: Democrats win the US House and Senate as voters deliver a strong rebuke to Trump and Republicans
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