MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government leaders’ concerns about the health of democracy edge upward, including at local level

August 2024

Since 2020, the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) has asked local government leaders across the state for their assessments of American democracy as a system of government, based on factors like free and fair elections, rule of law, an unbiased free press, ethical and transparent governance, an informed and engaged electorate, and more. Local officials evaluate the functioning of democracy on a 10-point scale—with 1 as a total breakdown of democracy and 10 as perfectly functioning democracy—for the United States overall, for the state of Michigan overall, and for their own jurisdiction. Assessments of 1-4 on the scale signify low or poor assessments, while those from 7-10 signify assessments of highly functioning democracy.  Findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2024 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), and includes comparisons to spring 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 wave responses. 

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Key findings

  • This year, ratings of “poor” civic health at the national level (1-4 on a 10-point
    scale) shifted higher, from 60% of Michigan local leaders in 2023 to 65% this
    spring. Only 11% of local leaders currently say U.S. democracy is functioning at
    a “high” level (7-10 on a 10-point scale).
     
  • Local leaders’ assessments of how democracy is functioning here in the state of
    Michigan have also declined slightly, with those who view it as functioning poorly
    rising from 35% in 2023 to 38% this year, and those who think Michigan’s
    democracy is functioning well dipping slightly from 30% to 28%.
     
  • Meanwhile, 79% of local officials rate the functioning of democracy in their own
    communities as high, similar to 2023, however, the percentage who view it as
    poorly functioning moved upwards from 4% to 7%. A decline in positive
    assessments can be found primarily among local leaders who identify
    themselves as Democrats, who went from 84% last year saying their local
    community has a highly functioning democracy to 78% in 2024.