LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan voters will decide this November whether to initiate a review of the state’s constitution, a process that hasn’t occurred since the 1960s.
Proposal 2026-01 will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot, asking whether a constitutional convention should be convened to consider a general revision of the 1963 Michigan Constitution. The question is required under Article XII, Section 3, which mandates that voters weigh in every 16 years.
If approved, delegates would be elected in early 2027 and would convene in Lansing on Oct. 5, 2027, to review the state’s governing document. Any proposed changes would still need voter approval before taking effect.
Supporters of the process say the automatic ballot question is designed to give voters a regular opportunity to evaluate how well their government is functioning without relying on political momentum or special interests to drive the conversation.
“This is a provision in our current constitution that says, let’s check in with the voters. Let’s see what they think, whether they think the system is working right, and if so, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing. If not, then there’s a chance to convene what’s called a constitutional convention,” said Eric Luper, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan.
While the idea of a constitutional convention can sound like a complete reset, experts say the process is typically more measured, focused on revising the existing document rather than rebuilding state government from the ground up.
“They come together and argue over things, what’s working and what’s not, and if it’s not working, how could or should it be changed? And then ultimately, when they come to an agreement on the document, they have to come back to us, the people, to say, do you like this better than our current constitution?” Luper said.
Michigan last approved a constitutional convention in 1961, leading to the adoption of the current constitution in 1963. Since then, changes have primarily been made through amendments, either proposed by the Legislature or through citizen-led petitions.
Luper said that the amendment process allows for incremental changes, but it can also create limitations.
“We think, with the amendment process, while it’s a great form of grassroots involvement in government and having the people have a voice in it, when it’s done by a petition, there’s usually a special interest behind it, and so there’s not a negotiation of the issues,” he said.
A constitutional convention, by contrast, would require broader discussion and compromise across a wide range of issues.
“Clearly, a constitutional convention would be a highly politicized exercise, but you bring everybody in together, and there has to be conversation and discussion, and ultimately, agreement or compromise,” Luper said.
The Citizens Research Council, a nonpartisan public policy organization, is publishing a series of informational papers ahead of the election to help voters better understand the issue. The group is not taking a position on whether the convention should be called.
The series includes overviews of Michigan’s constitutional history, the amendment process, and detailed breakdowns of individual sections of the current document, including the Declaration of Rights. You can view the whole series here: crcmich.org/publications/2026con-con
“We’re trying to provide information, not to advocate for a yes vote or a no vote, but just provide information on what it means to convene a constitutional convention, and then you, the voters, can decide,” Luper said.
If voters reject the proposal, the question will automatically return to the ballot in 2042.
