Fact Check: "Michigan needs 446,198 signatures to put ranked choice voting on 2026 ballot."
What We Know
A campaign named Rank MI Vote is actively seeking to place a ranked choice voting measure on the November 2026 ballot in Michigan. To achieve this, the campaign must collect at least 446,198 signatures from registered voters in the state (Free Press). Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed until a candidate achieves a majority (VoteBeat).
Analysis
The claim that Michigan needs 446,198 signatures for the ranked choice voting measure is accurate. This number is derived from the requirement that a proposed constitutional amendment must gather signatures equivalent to 10% of the total votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election (VoteBeat). The campaign's goal aligns with the state's legal framework for ballot initiatives, which is well-documented and publicly accessible.
The sources used to verify this claim are credible. The Free Press is a well-established news outlet with a history of covering Michigan politics, while VoteBeat focuses specifically on election-related issues, providing in-depth analysis and reporting. Both sources present factual information regarding the signature requirement and the context of the proposed amendment.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Michigan needs 446,198 signatures to put ranked choice voting on the 2026 ballot is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The requirement is based on established state law regarding ballot initiatives, and the figures provided by Rank MI Vote are consistent with the legal standards for such measures.
