Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (November 2023)

Kalamazoo Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic Local charter amendments and Local elections and campaigns
Status Approved
Type Initiative

Kalamazoo Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative was on the ballot as an initiative in Kalamazoo on November 7, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported enacting ranked-choice voting for municipal elections in Kalamazoo if authorized by state law.

A "no" vote opposed enacting ranked-choice voting for municipal elections in Kalamazoo if Michigan state law is changed to allow local ranked-choice voting.

Election results

Kalamazoo Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		6,486	70.97%
No		2,653	29.03%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

The initiative was designed to enact ranked-choice voting for municipal elections in Kalamazoo if state law is changed to allow local ranked-choice voting.

If state law is changed to allow ranked-choice voting, the initiative provides the following process for ranked-choice voting in Kalamazoo:

For mayor, voters would rank their candidates in order of preference. If one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they would be declared the winner. If no candidates received more than 50%, the candidate with the least amount of votes would be eliminated and votes for that candidate redistributed to voters' second choice. This process would repeat until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

For electing the three commissioners, voters would rank candidates by preference. A formula sets the number of votes (called the election threshold under the initiative) a candidate needs to win. If a candidate gets more votes than the threshold, they win. Extra votes they get beyond the threshold would be distributed to voters' second-choice candidates. If the redistributed votes push two more candidates to the threshold, the three commissioner positions would be considered elected. If only two positions are filled, then the extra votes of the second winner would be given to voters' third-choice candidates.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative was as follows:

“

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that the Mayor and City Commission members are to be elected by a Ranked Choice Voting method when it is authorized by State Law?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Kalamazoo City Commissioner Chris Praedel (D)

Organizations

• Rank MI Vote

Arguments

• Kalamazoo City Commissioner Chris Praedel: "I would just urge people to take a look at this. There is significant literature that shows that in many, many cases where ranked choice voting has been implemented, there has been a boon in better representation of women and people of color in office."
• Rank MI Vote: "We believe that RCV would make Michigan elections more competitive and fairer by encouraging the participation of more candidates and parties, and by ensuring outcomes that more accurately reflect the will of the voters."

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Background

Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

See also: Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections.

Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction to approve a ranked-choice voting measure in 1915.

RCV is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots. RCV can be used for single-winner elections or multi-winner elections; when used for multi-winner elections, the system has also been called single-transferable vote or proportional representation. These terms were often used to describe multi-winner RCV before the 1970s. You can learn more about ranked-choice voting systems and policies here.

Local RCV ballot measures

See also: History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures

Between 1965 and 2024, 79 ranked-choice voting (RCV) local ballot measures were on the ballot in 58 jurisdictions in 19 states.

• Ballotpedia has located 71 local ballot measures to adopt RCV. Voters approved 52 (78.9%) and rejected 15 (21.1%).

• There were eight local ballot measures to repeal RCV. Voters approved four (50.0%) and rejected four (50.0%).

• The year with the most local RCV ballot measures was 2022, when nine were on the ballot in nine jurisdictions. Voters approved seven of them.

• The state with the most local ballot measures related to RCV is California, where there have been 13.

The following table shows the number of ranked-choice voting measures by topic.

Local ranked-choice vote measures by topic and outcome, 1965 - April 2025
Topic	Total	Approved	Approved (%)	Defeated	Defeated (%)
Adopt RCV	72	57	79.2%	15	20.08%
Repeal RCV	8	4	50.0%	4	50.0%
Total	80	61	76.3%	19	23.7%

Proportional representation measure, 1918

See also: Kalamazoo, Michigan, Proportional Representation for City Council Measure (February 1918)

In 1918, voters in Kalamazoo approved a charter amendment, by a vote of 78% in favor and 22% opposed, adopting a system of proportional representation for the seven-member Kalamazoo City Council. In Wattles v. Upjohn, on September 30, 1920, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the system of proportional representation, the Hare System, adopted in Kalamazoo "[abridged] the right of elective franchise."

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through an initiative petition sponsored by Rank MI Vote. To qualify for the ballot, 2,745 valid signatures were required by May 24, 2023. On June 22, 2023, the city clerk found that proponents submitted 3,018 valid signatures, and ordered the measure to be placed on the November 2023 ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Michigan

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Michigan.

How to vote in Michigan

Poll times

In Michigan, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Most of the state is observes Eastern Time, while several counties observe Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Michigan, a voter must be a United States citizen and a resident of their city or township for at least 30 days. Voters must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not be currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.

Voters may register to vote online, by mail, or in person at clerk's offices in their county, city, or township, or at a state department branch office 15 days or earlier before an election .

Within 14 days of an election and on Election Day, voters can register in person at their local clerk's office by presenting proof of residency documentation. According to the Michigan Secretary of State's website:

“

Proof of residency is official documentation (paper or digital) that lists a voter’s current name and address. When registering to vote within 14 days of an election, voters must present one form of proof of residency in person at a local clerk’s office. Proof of residency examples include: Michigan driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. Passport A utility bill Insurance documents (health, car, home, etc.) A bank or credit card statement Financial aid or school enrollment documents A lease agreement A paycheck or other government check Other government document

”

Automatic registration

Michigan automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for or update a driver’s license or personal identification card.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Michigan has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Michigan allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Michigan law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Michigan does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

This page, administered by the Michigan Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Michigan requires voters to present photo identification while voting. Voters without identification can cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the Michigan Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Michigan driver’s license
• Michigan personal identification card
• Current driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state
• Current operator's or chauffeur's license
• Current federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID
• Current U.S. passport
• Current military identification card with photo
• Current student identification with photo from an educational institution
• Current tribal identification card with photo.

Voters can obtain a state identification card at a secretary of state branch office for $10. Voters over the age of 65, voters who are blind, and voters whose driving privileges have been terminated due to a physical or mental disability can obtain an identification card for free. Additionally, voters who can present a reason for having the fee waived may also obtain an ID for free. Visit the Michigan secretary of state’s page or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) for more information.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local electoral systems on the ballot
• Local elections and campaigns on the ballot

Michigan

• Michigan 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Michigan
• Kalamazoo, Michigan

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas