Vote No on Proposal 1 This November

One important role Michigan Catholic Conference plays in the life of the Church is to encourage and equip Catholics to practice faithful citizenship – that is, to participate in elections by voting with a conscience that has been formed by the truths of the faith.

MCC prepares and distributes election-related materials to dioceses and parishes to help the faithful prepare for elections. Catholics are encouraged to evaluate political candidates and their positions on various policy issues, particularly if candidate positions promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. 

The Church never endorses political candidates or parties. The Church does, however, evaluate policy issues based on the principles of Catholic social teaching. Following deliberation and action from its Board of Directors, which includes the state’s diocesan bishops, MCC will occasionally take a position on a ballot question that may either promote or harm the common good. 

This November, MCC is urging Catholics to vote NO on Proposal 1, which will ask voters if they support a convention to rewrite the state constitution. 

Unlike other ballot measures – which must demonstrate broad support by garnering approval by the Legislature or by gathering thousands of signatures from Michigan residents – this proposal to convene a constitutional convention is required by the Michigan Constitution to appear automatically on the ballot every 16 years. The specific purpose of a constitutional convention is to elect individuals to rewrite the state’s guiding document and place it before voters for passage or rejection. 

Since the 1963 constitution went into effect, voters have been asked three times if another convention should be conducted. On each occasion, MCC and voters at the ballot have said ‘no.’  

The rationale to vote NO on Proposal 1 is this: State politics have increasingly become nationalized. If Michigan voters approve the creation of a constitutional convention, it would undoubtedly attract the influence of national political actors and organizations, each with millions of dollars to spend promoting a particular issue or partisan interest. The result would mean a Michigan constitution that does not reflect Michigan’s interests. MCC and the bishops of Michigan do not believe such a result would advance the common good in this state.

While improvements could indeed be made to the current constitution, the existing document already allows for amendments or changes on a narrower, issue-by-issue basis. This is done through the citizens’ initiative process or by a vote of the Legislature. Both options allow for a proposal to be placed on the ballot for a vote of the people.

Michigan Catholic Conference is far from alone in opposing Proposal 1. A broad nonpartisan coalition of groups have come together to urge Michigan voters to reject the ballot question and avoid a wide-ranging, unpredictable constitutional convention. 

To promote the common good in this state by keeping Michigan residents in charge of the state’s constitution, MCC urges Catholic and all voters this fall to vote NO on Proposal 1.

The Word from Lansing is a regular column for Catholic news outlets provided by Michigan Catholic Conference, the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.