Civic Engagement

CLOSUP Updates

April 20 Webinar - Michigan Redistricting: Making Public Hearings Fair and Effective

Apr 20, 2021

Apr 20, 2021 7:00-8:00 pm EDT Virtual Event Watch the 4/20 Webinar: "Michigan Redistricting: Making Public Hearings Fair and Effective" See the Resources slide from the 4/20 event See the current MICRC public hearing schedule In 2018...

A blue map of Michigan layered over a blue neighborhood map

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Michigan local leaders' views on state's new approach to electoral redistricting

Feb 22, 2021 Read the report

A new report from CLOSUP presents local government leaders' familiarity with Michigan’s new approach to redistricting by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, as well as their perspectives on potential "Communities of Interest"...

CLOSUP Updates

The next big thing: Redistricting in Michigan and the role of communities of interest

Feb 5, 2021

Policy Talks @ the Ford School/CLOSUP Lecture Series The Next Big Thing: Redistricting in Michigan and the Role of Communities of Interest Thursday February 2, 2021 7:00pm – 8:30pm EST (a virtual event -- register below to receive the viewing...

In the Media

Late Census data poses redistricting challenge

Jan 27, 2021 Lansing State Journal

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CLOSUP Updates

New Report: The functioning of democracy at the local level: a compendium of findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey of local leaders

Dec 4, 2020

The Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) has released a new resource that summarizes Michigan local government leaders’ views on democracy and democratic governance. The findings come from the Michigan Public Policy...

CLOSUP Updates

Virtual Event: The Functioning of Democracy across the Urban-Rural Spectrum

Nov 3, 2020

There is much talk, especially in recent years, about the urban-rural divide: the idea that people from urban and rural places think fundamentally differently about a whole range of policy issues, and about governance itself. This semester, Ford...

CLOSUP Updates

October 9 virtual event: Jocelyn Benson And Frank LaRose On Voter Turnout And Access In Ohio And Michigan

Oct 5, 2020

The Ford School invites you to join us for a conversation on voting rights and voter access, featuring Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Jenna Bednar, Professor of Political Science and Public...

In the Media

Redistricting Commission Schedules First Meetings, Group Orientation

Sep 8, 2020 Gongwer

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In the Media

Fact Checker: Some red flags to polling

Jan 13, 2015 Reading Eagle, Reading, PA

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In the Media

Fact Checker: Some red flags to polling

Jan 13, 2015 Reading Eagle, Reading, PA

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In the Media

Poll: Contracting Working For Local Officials (subscription required)

Nov 13, 2014 Gongwer.com

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In the Media

Mileah Kromer: A View from the States' Public Opinion and Hydraulic Fracturing in Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania

Oct 26, 2014 Center Maryland

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MPPS

The functioning of democracy at the local level: a compendium of findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey of local leaders

October 28, 2024

Policy Reports

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) Memo #3 — Recommendations for Managing and Analyzing Public Input in Future Rounds of Michigan Redistricting

September 23, 2024

Tom Ivacko, Edward Plaut, Danielle Hamer, Elizabeth Gelman

This memo provides a comprehensive analysis of the CLOSUP team’s work in assisting the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) in the analysis of public comments submitted during the 2024 Senate Mapping Redistricting process....

Policy Reports

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) Memo #2 — Final Analysis of Public Comments on 2024 Remediated Senate Maps in Southeast Michigan

August 21, 2024

Tom Ivacko, Elizabeth Gelman, Danielle Hamer, Edward Plaut, University of Michigan

This brief provides a review of CLOSUP analysis of public comments submitted to the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) in spring 2024 as part of the effort to draw new maps in Southeast Michigan as directed by a federal...

Policy Reports

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) Memo #1 — Initial Analysis of Public Comments on 2024 Remediated Senate Maps in Southeast Michigan

May 20, 2024

Tom Ivacko, Elizabeth Gelman, Danielle Hamer, Edward Plaut, University of Michigan

This memo provides an initial summary of CLOSUP analysis of public comments submitted to the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) in spring 2024 as part of the effort to draw new maps in Southeast Michigan as directed by a...

MPPS

Internet presence among Michigan local governments: websites, online services, and experience with virtual meetings

May 25, 2022

This report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding their jurisdiction’s online presence, including whether their local government has an official website and what it provides, the use of teleconferencing for official...

Direct Democracy in Action: Comparing Citizen Engagement efforts across the Urban-Rural Spectrum in Michigan

May 1, 2021

Christian Hunter

In American society, citizen engagement is a manifestation of direct democracy at the local government level. Engaging citizens in their community can have positive effects on jurisdictions where it is pursued, but the process can also come with its...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders' views on state's new approach to electoral redistricting

February 22, 2021

This report presents local government leaders' familiarity with Michigan’s new approach to redistricting by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, as well as their perspectives on potential "Communities of Interest" in the areas...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders say local democracy is strong, as their trust in government and citizens rises

October 27, 2020

This report presents local government leaders’ views regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, the State of Michigan, and the United States as a whole, as well as their levels of trust toward the federal, state, and other local...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders expect increased challenges for the 2020 election, but are confident about administering accurate elections

October 5, 2020

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s township and city officials on issues related to election administration in their jurisdictions, including expected challenges and confidence in election security. Data from a parallel survey of...

Policy Reports

The Role of Communities of Interest in Michigan's New Approach to Redistricting: Recommendations to the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission

August 31, 2020

John Chamberlin, Alissa Graff, Sarah Gruen, Safiya Merchant, Nick Najor, Gerson Ramirez, James VanSteel

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) was launched at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in 2001 to provide public service to the people and communities of Michigan. Over the years, CLOSUP has...

MPPS

Confidence in the accuracy of Michigan’s 2020 Census count among local leaders was not very high, slips further

August 25, 2020

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the 2020 U.S. Census, including their confidence in the potential accuracy of the count both locally and at the state level, as well as information about local...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders expect mixed impacts from expanded voter registration and absentee voting reforms

July 28, 2020

This report presents the experiences and opinions of Michigan’s local government clerks and other city and township leaders regarding three statewide voting and election reforms: 1) voter registration up to 15 days before an election via mail,...

MPPS

Michigan local government preparations and concerns regarding the 2020 U.S. Census

September 1, 2019

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census, including their confidence in the potential accuracy of the count both locally and at the state level, assessments of groups within...

MPPS

The state of community civic discourse, according to Michigan’s local government leaders

December 3, 2018

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the state of public discourse in their communities, including how constructive or divisive it is among citizens, between citizens and elected officials, and among the...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders want their citizens to play a larger role in policymaking, but report declining engagement

July 1, 2017

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of issues related to citizen engagement with their local governments, and the role that citizens play in the local policymaking process. The findings in this report are based on...

MPPS

Citizen engagement in the view of Michigan’s local government leaders

May 1, 2013

This is the second of several reports on the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding citizen engagement in their jurisdictions. This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding their governments’...

MPPS

Beyond trust in government: government trust in citizens?

March 1, 2013

This is the first of several reports on the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding citizen engagement in their jurisdictions. This report focuses on the levels of trust local officials feel toward their citizens as responsible...

MPPS

Michigan local governments actively promote U.S. Census participation

August 1, 2010

On Friday, July 30, 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau closed its public phone call-in lines that had allowed U.S. citizens who were missed by mailed forms and door-to-door efforts to be counted in the 2010 Census. The Census data, according to the Census...