Democracy and Debate

State & Hill

Breaking down public trust

Jun 10, 2021

By Rebecca Cohen (MPP '09)Americans’ trust in government institutions to “do the right thing” has steadily eroded since the late 1960s,1 correlated for many analysts with events such as the Vietnam War, Watergate, the ’70s oil embargo, and President...

In the Media

Chamberlin discusses Michigan redistricting

May 25, 2021 MLive

As the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission begins its work, Michigan citizens are being called upon to help with the process. John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of public policy and political science, explained how the new...

Chamberlin discusses Michigan redistricting

News

CLOSUP to help expand Michigan redistricting resources in partnership with MSU’s IPPSR

May 24, 2021

Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) and the Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) are collaborating to educate and assist Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting...

The Next Big Thing: Redistricting In Michigan And The Role Of Communities Of Interest

In the Media

Hanson comments on risks of Line 5 pipeline

May 19, 2021 The Globe and Mail

For years, the Line 5 pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac has been a hot topic in Michigan politics. Jonathon Hanson, a Ford School lecturer, shed light on the potential consequences of continuing to allow the pipeline to exist. “You think...

Hanson comments on risks of Line 5 pipeline

In the Media

Schwarz weighs in on Michigan redistricting

May 9, 2021 The Blade

With the loss of a congressional district as a result of the most recent census, Michiganders have been left guessing what the new districts will look like. Most likely, districts will become more competitive for the upcoming midterm elections, but...

Schwarz weighs in on Michigan redistricting

In the Media

Chamberlin talks about Michigan's transparent redistricting process and census impact

Apr 22, 2021 Detroit News

New 2020 Census data means the loss of a Michigan Congressional seat, and redrawing the district lines will happen through a new citizen-driven process. "The process this year is radically different than the past," said John Chamberlin. "The public...

Chamberlin on lawmaker transparency and redistricting

In the Media

Chamberlin explains 'communities of interest' in Michigan redistricting process

Apr 20, 2021 Bridge Michigan

“The idea is to build districts that work for the citizens, and actually works for the representative,” Chamberlain said, adding that if a representative has a coherent district, it’s easier for them and their staff to actually serve their...

Chamberlin explains 'communities of interest' in Michigan redistricting process

News

The Conversation: Leiser backs Biden's plan to tax corporations for infrastructure improvements

Apr 2, 2021 The Conversation

In a recent opinion for The Conversation, tax policy expert Stephanie Leiser provides evidence to increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% to pay for President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan. This increase would still be below levels...

Leiser on building a better local government financial reporting system

News

Michigan's redistricting effort makes slow but steady progress, despite delayed data, other challenges - Chamberlin

Feb 25, 2021

John Chamberlin, Ford School professor emeritus of political science and public policy, describes himself as a "redistricting junkie." Not unexpectedly, he possesses a keen interest in and understanding of the efforts under way to develop Michigan's...

Publication

U-M survey finds early lack of awareness among local leaders with state’s new approach to redraw legislative districts

Feb 23, 2021

Michigan’s local government leaders reported mixed familiarity with the state’s new approach to redistricting, according to a 2020 survey whose results were released today by the the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the...

U-M survey finds early lack of awareness among local leaders with state’s new approach to redraw legislative districts

In the Media

Ivacko on voter education and voter ID laws

Jan 7, 2021 Bridge Detroit

"There are a lot of complicated laws governing elections and they can be confusing both to voters and to poll workers," according to Tom Ivacko. “Some of the recent changes have added to the complexity and the need for voters to really do their...

Ivacko on federal infrastructure dollars in Michigan

In the Media

Ivacko makes 2021 political predictions for Michigan

Jan 5, 2021 Hour Detroit

Ivacko joins other political experts to answer eight burning questions in Michigan politics. Will Mike Duggan be reelected? What will become of twice-failed candidate John James? Who will benefit from congressional redistricting? And more. On...

News

Trust in government in a time of questioning: local governance leads the way

Dec 17, 2020

In a time of growing suspicion about the role of government at the state and national level, a good news story emerges when looking at local governance in Michigan. The conclusion of a new compendium study, The Functioning of Democracy: Insights...

Challenges continue for state-local relations, according to Michigan local government leaders

In the Media

Ivacko comments on Michigan's tight Senate race in the WSJ

Oct 30, 2020 Wall Street Journal

“Going into this election season, he was not particularly well-known,” said Tom Ivacko, referring to Mr. Peters. At the same time, Mr. Ivacko said Mr. James’s 2018 challenge helped him build “some name recognition fairly recently,” he said. He lost...

In the Media

Ivacko on shifting political landscape in northern Michigan

Oct 29, 2020 Bridge Michigan

Speaking about a recent racial incident in the Leelanau Peninsula to Bridge Michigan, Tom Ivacko said that the growth of Traverse City and the area’s influx of vacationers and retirees are shifting local politics. “If this pandemic pushes that even...

News

Michigan local leaders trust their local democratic institutions far more than those at state or federal levels

Oct 27, 2020

The political adage is that “All politics are local.” The same could be said of how local leaders feel about the health of democratic governance. That is according to a report on Michigan’s local leaders released today by the Center for Local,...

More than half of Michigan local governments report personnel harassed, abused for doing their jobs

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...

News

98% of Michigan local officials are confident of accurate 2020 voting administration

Oct 5, 2020

Confidence in running accurate elections among Michigan local government leaders remains very high, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and an expected high voter turnout, according to a survey released October 5 by the the Center for...

98% of Michigan local officials are confident of accurate 2020 voting administration

In the Media

CLOSUP survey shows low and slipping confidence in accuracy of Michigan's 2020 Census

Sep 18, 2020 Bridge Michigan

Only five percent of local officials in Michigan surveyed have expressed strong confidence in the Census’ completeness or accuracy, according to the Spring 2020 Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), which is conducted annually by the Center for...

CLOSUP report: Mixed signals in local government fiscal health across Michigan

News

U-M study aims to clarify 'communities of interest' as Michigan prepares for legislative redistricting

Sep 14, 2020 Michigan News

An Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw state and federal legislative districts in Michigan in 2021 with a mandate: The districts must reflect the state's diverse population and communities of interest. The requirement is one...

News

Confidence in Michigan’s 2020 Census count among local officials slipping

Aug 25, 2020

Gathering 2020 Census data was always going to be complicated, as the U.S. Commerce Department varied its criteria and reduced the budget for in-person contact in the lead-up to the count. When the pandemic struck in March, just before the official...

Confidence in Michigan’s 2020 Census count among local officials slipping

Conversations Across Differences

Restoring confidence in our democracy

Jan 12, 2023, 4:00-5:30 pm EST

Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium (1120)

Join us for a conversation hosted at the Ford School by The Carter Center and the Gerald R. Ford Foundation that tackles how to buttress voter confidence in our democracy. Former Michigan U.S. Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Amb (ret) Susan D. Page, Michigan Law and Ford School professor from practice and Carter Center trustee, will explore the bipartisan challenge of restoring faith in our democratic systems and highlight ways individuals can be part of the solution as we work together to uphold the standards of our democracy.

United States general election 2022

Nov 8, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EST

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Key dates and deadlines for the November 8 election, plus how to register and vote.

Michigan primary election

Aug 2, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EDT

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Michigan will hold its primary election on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and the Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

Michigan May 2022 regular election

May 3, 2022, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EDT

At your polling location or local clerk's office, or by absentee ballot

Michigan will hold a regular election on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, and voters may have measures or candidates on their local ballots. The Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

CLOSUP Lecture Series, Policy Talks @ the Ford School

Michigan redistricting: A model for the nation? Evaluating the state's new maps and process

Jan 19, 2022, 7:00-8:30 pm EST

This webinar will analyze and evaluate Michigan’s new redistricting approach and new maps, and compare to approaches of other states. Will Michigan's new model inspire reform in other states?

CLOSUP Lecture Series

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission working meeting on U-M campus

Nov 18, 2021, 10:00 am-2:00 pm EST

Michigan League Ballroom (2nd floor)

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be meeting on U-M’s campus during the 45-day period for public comment before they vote to adopt final district maps in Michigan.

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission working meeting on U-M campus

Michigan November elections

Nov 2, 2021, 7:00 am-8:00 pm EDT

At your polling location or by absentee ballot

Michigan will hold elections on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, and the Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.

Policy Talks @ the Ford School

How communities can promote their interests in Michigan's redistricting: Lessons learned

Sep 29, 2021, 7:00-8:30 pm EDT

Michigan’s redistricting process will affect Michigan policy and politics for the next decade. We will address the process that the MICRC is using to draw district maps for the U.S. Congress and both houses of the Michigan Legislature.

CLOSUP Lecture Series

Public meetings of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commissioners

Sep 2, 2021, 1:00-8:00 pm EDT

Michigan Union Rogel Ballroom (2nd Floor)

Public meetings of the Michigan Citizens Independent Redistricting Commissioners with agenda to include racially polarized voting analysis, Voting Rights Act analysis, and map drawing for State Senate districts for Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties.

Public meetings of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commissioners