Ann Arbor ballot proposal aims to implement nonpartisan elections and eliminate primaries

Democrats for Ann Arbor launched a campaign to oppose Proposition C, a ballot proposal that aims to remove primary elections and partisan affiliation on local ballots, according to a Sept. 5 press release.

The proposal was written following historically low voter turnout in the Ann Arbor August primary and is meant to increase the number of participating voters by relying solely on the votes from the higher-attended November election. John Godfrey, lead organizer of the proposal and spokesperson for Coalition for Ann Arbor’s Future, told The Michigan Daily he is in favor of the proposal because he believes it will uplift student voices.

“A lot of Ann Arbor is out of town in early August,” Godfrey said. “People are not here or not paying attention. … Student support for these proposals in November will really fundamentally change the ability of students to really take an active, meaningful role in the life of the city where they’re living and studying.”

In an interview with The Daily, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said he supported maintaining August primary elections. Taylor said these primaries provide the opportunity for candidates to campaign by meeting with Ann Arbor residents face-to-face.



https://www.michigandaily.com/news/ann-arbor/ann-arbor-ballot-proposal-c/