Here’s the six petitions you’ll most likely be asked to sign

Hooray! It’s the middle of summer. Beaches. Festivals. Concerts. Baseball. Art Fairs. Pushy petition circulators.  

It never fails. Yes, you’re a registered voter. Yes, you have a passing interest in public policy. Sure, you have 45 seconds to sign their petition, but not five minutes to read what it does. 

I’m here to help. Below are the six petitions campaigners will most likely ask you to sign, along with a little dose of political reality. 

 

1. Only U.S. Citizens Can Vote  

The gist: A Republican-led initiative to put extra hurdles into the Constitution for non-U.S. citizens trying to vote. 

Why this could be successful: The Republicans’ best turnout tool going into 2026 is playing on voters’ agitation that voting is so easy that lying foreign nationals can vote in our elections. At least 16 did in Michigan last year. 

Why this may flop: Two competing factions are basically trying to do the same thing, and they’re still arguing over which one should quit and join the other. If both gave it a go, it would create voter confusion. Likely, both would fail. 

 

2. Ranked Choice Voting 

The gist: Today we vote for one candidate per race. This would allow voters to rank the candidates in races. If Peter, Paul and Mary were running for the state House and I like Paul but know that the race (realistically) is between Peter and Mary, I could rank Paul as my first choice and rank Mary second. This means that if Paul is the lowest vote-getter among the three, my vote will move to Mary, giving her a chance to beat Peter. 

Why this could be successful: For people who pay attention to their ballots, this is a great option. You can vote for your long shot, but you can also make sure the person you REALLY don’t like doesn’t get your vote. 

Why this may flop: Try explaining this to the passive voter. It doesn’t poll well. MAGA types see this as a creative way to screw over Republicans. Lots of hate here. 

 

3. Invest In MI Kids 

The gist: Those making $500,000 a year or more would pay an additional 5% of their income in state taxes, with the proceeds going to the schools. 

Why this could be successful: The campaign’s simple-to-digest moniker “Tax the Rich” is something anybody who isn’t rich can rally around. “Don’t tax me, tax that rich guy behind the tree.” 

Why this may flop: Rich people will spend LOTS of money framing this proposal as the beginning of a graduated income tax, which historically Michiganders don’t like.

 

4. Ax MI Tax  

The gist: This is designed to eliminate property taxes. 

Why this could be successful: Who doesn’t want to get out of paying property taxes? The conservative grassroots support network behind this is bigger than you might think. 

Why this could flop: Without property taxes, who pays for schools? The answer is, “We all will,” but likely through a higher or expanded sales tax. Multiple studies show that higher and more expansive sales taxes disproportionately affect lower-income individuals. 

 

5. Voters To Stop Pay Cuts 

The gist: This eliminates the tipped minimum wage once and for all. Wait staff would be making close to $15 an hour by 2028. 

Why this could be successful: Union organizers gathered the signatures for this idea before, and this time they only need 223,099 to pause the new tipped wage law. The rest of the aforementioned proposals need 446,198 or 356,958 signatures. 

Why this may flop: Haven’t we settled this issue already? 

 

6. Michiganders For Money Out Of Politics 

The gist: Regulated power companies like Consumers Energy couldn’t donate to political campaigns. Neither could big state contractors like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. 

Why this could be successful: Getting big corporate giants out of politics has a populist ring to it, doesn’t it? 

Why this could flop: In the flurry of lawsuits sure to accompany this one is the same Freedom of Speech legal argument that gave rise to Citizens United.

(Kyle Melinn is editor of the Capitol news service MIRS. His email address is melinnky@gmail.com.)