Vote NO on Prop 1

Five years ago we saw the writing on the wall. Roe v. Wade was likely to fall, and for the first time in generations, our children would have fewer reproductive rights than we had. We couldn’t let that happen. 

That’s why we, along with our partners and thousands of volunteers across the state, went to work to put reproductive freedom on the ballot, and in 2022 voters approved Proposal 3, amending the state constitution to include Michiganders’ right to reproductive freedom, including abortion. 

Now, that hard-fought freedom is at risk. This November, a question will appear on the ballot as Proposal 1 (aka Prop 1), asking voters if they would like to hold a constitutional convention. This question is required to appear on the ballot every 16 years. Since this was first required in 1960, it has appeared on the ballot four times, most recently in 2010, and voters have never approved it, for good reason … 

If Prop 1 is approved, one delegate from every Michigan House and Senate District would be chosen in special elections on a partisan basis. These elections do not have to adhere to all of the same processes and procedures as our regular elections do and there is the potential for special interests like Big Tech, Big Pharma, and insurance companies to pour money into the election, unregulated, to influence the outcome. The convention is also open-ended and its rules and procedures are decided by the delegates. Delegates could decide to not change anything, or to rewrite the entire constitution. 

Processes to amend Michigan’s constitution already exist though. Voters can amend the constitution through ballot initiatives. This process is rigorous and thorough, and most importantly, is voter-led. The state legislature can also amend the constitution. Both State Senators and State Representatives can introduce amendments to the constitution and they must be approved by two-thirds of the sitting legislature.

Over the past decade, voters have succeeded in amending the Michigan Constitution to not only include access to legal abortion, but also to expand voting rights. Our elections are more accessible because voters approved same-day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, and early voting. These improvements to the health of our democracy could also be taken away if a constitutional convention were approved, and are deeply tied to our fight for reproductive freedom because restricting access to the ballot would impact people’s ability to weigh in on important decisions about their healthcare.

The number and breadth of organizations opposing Prop 1 is unprecedented and includes a bipartisan coalition of nonprofit organizations like ours, labor unions, the Michigan Catholic Conference, and chambers of commerce. Because we all know that it is far too dangerous to crack open our state’s governing document and let special interests, the ultra-wealthy, and big corporations pour money into rewriting our constitution, there is just too much at stake.

At our core, we know that no matter who you are or where you live, all Michiganders should have equitable access to the healthcare they need — including abortion. Medical decisions about your reproductive healthcare should be between you and your provider and when serious medical complications arise during pregnancy, doctors must be able to provide the full range of treatment options that are best for the patient, including abortion. Thanks to voters, Michigan’s constitution backs this up. 

Across the country, we have seen the dangerous and deadly impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We fought hard to secure reproductive freedom in Michigan’s constitution, and we cannot reopen it to political attacks. We are coming together now, as we have before, urging you to Vote NO on Proposal 1. 

Sommer Foster

Executive Director, Michigan Voices

Loren Khogali

Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan

Paula Thornton Greear

President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan