Thought this was nice news, (and a little funny):

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Promote the Vote 2022, the organizers of Proposal 2, are far outraising their top opposition in a quest to expand voting rights and access in Michigan.

The committee raised nearly $12 million between July 21 and Oct. 23…

What does Prop 2 propose, specifically?

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Prop 2 would do nine main things, including putting the right to vote in the state constitution, requiring nine days of early in-person voting and giving military voters more time to return absentee ballots.

It would also require the government to fund absentee ballot stamps, require more drop boxes and allow publicly disclosed donations to fund elections. Opponents argue Prop 2’s changes would compromise election security.

And how are these “opponents” doing?

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Opposition group Secure MI Voter ID raised more than $2.2 million in the same period, per its report. Illinois conservative billionaire Richard Uihlein ($1.5 million) was one of four total donors. A Clarkston man’s $25 was the only Michigan donation.

PS - latest polling shows Prop 2 up, 67% to 23%.

>allow publicly disclosed donations to fund elections

Fun fact - the supreme court has determined this is unconstitutional. And that was BEFORE the conservative turn.

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mattkime
>allow publicly disclosed donations to fund elections

Fun fact - the supreme court has determined this is unconstitutional. And that was BEFORE the conservative turn.

I don't think that's correct. The disclosure of campaign funding may breach the 1st amendment, however, they also found vital interest in "provid[ing] the electorate with information 'as to where political campaign money comes from and how it is spent by the candidate' in order to aid the voters in evaluating those who seek federal office..."

Where the government can show a vital public interest, the rights of individuals and corporations may be subsumed for the purpose of serving that public interest.

[en.wikipedia.org]

...And this is public funding of elections, not funding of candidates. Similar public interest, less 1st Amendment to protect. It looks to me like it would pass a Constitutional challenge.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2022 05:09PM by Tiangou.

I don't have the references on hand but a previous case determined that a) money is speech and b) providing money to one candidate over another - such as to provide equal financial footing - was considered to REMOVE the speech of the other party. In other words, the rich are rich and you're not allowed to do anything about it.

I'd love to be wrong on this.

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And what are the sources of the $12million in donations? My guess is that there are sizable donors from outside the state within that group.

I'm still trying to find signs for all 3 props, plus a couple of school board candidate signs. The no side has lots, and are easy to get, the yes side... crickets.

I may stop at some of the yes and school board sign homes and ring the doorbell asking where they got the signs.

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The arts are not luxuries but assets that give way more than they cost.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2022 11:08AM by Sam3.