PRESS RELEASE: League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County Opposes Ann Arbor 2024 Ballot Proposals C and D

PRESS RELEASE: League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County Opposes Ann Arbor 2024 Ballot Proposals C and D

LWV Washtenaw County
Type: 
News

For Immediate Release

 (Ann Arbor, Michigan; September 24, 2024) – The board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County (LWV-WC) voted unanimously – 8-0, with two members absent – to oppose both Ann Arbor 2024 Ballot Proposal C and Ann Arbor 2024 Ballot Proposal D, which appear on the November 5 General Election ballot for Ann Arbor voters.

 Before reaching their decision, the League created a ballot proposal committee, which conducted a comprehensive study of each of the two proposals by gathering information for and against the proposals, hearing from stakeholders, listening to presentations from experts in favor and opposed, and investigating how other communities have implemented similar changes.

 For these reasons the LWV-WC opposes Proposal C:

 League of Women Voters of Washtenaw Board Position on Proposal C

“While the goal of increased voter turnout is important, Proposal C is incomplete in addressing this issue. The main concern is this proposal does not provide a method for winnowing multiple candidates so that the ultimate winner will have a majority of total votes.

 For these reasons the LWV-WC Board opposes 2024 Ann Arbor Ballot Proposal D:

League of Women Voters of Washtenaw Board Position on Proposal D
“Public financing of campaigns where candidates adhere to reasonable spending limits is a key goal, but Proposal D falls short in a number of ways.

First and importantly, the State Attorney General has issued an opinion that Proposal D is contrary to State law because only a city council can appropriate city funds.

In addition, Proposal D does not:
  • require candidates to raise a certain dollar amount before matching funds are made available
  • limit individual donations beyond state requirements,
  • provide safeguards against candidates running in bad faith from getting City matching funds,
  • require a candidate to return unused matching funds to the City.

A complete summary of the League’s study and positions on the two proposals can be found on LWV-WC’s website: STUDY OF ANN ARBOR 2024 BALLOT PROPOSALS C AND D.

About the League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.

lwvwashtenaw.org

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Media Contact:
Lynne Kochmanski
President, League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County
734-678-8144

president [at] lwvwashtenaw.org

 

 

 

League to which this content belongs: 
Washtenaw County