Democracy

Student Working Papers

An Analysis of Public Input on Michigan’s Redistricting Process

April 30, 2024

Malak Kalasho, University of Michigan

In 2018, Michigan residents voted in favor of Proposal 18-2, a ballot measure that shifted redistricting authority from the state legislature to an independent commission. By August 2020, 13 commissioners, made up of Democrats, Republicans, and...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of democratic functioning improve from 2021 low, but first signs of trouble at local level emerge

December 6, 2023

This policy brief presents the views of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, across the State of Michigan, and across the United States as a whole. These findings are based on statewide...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Despite two-year trend of improvement, most Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track

May 17, 2023

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders’ concerns about U.S. democracy at state and federal levels ease somewhat, but remain grim

November 16, 2022

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. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in...

Policy Reports

Former Michigan Legislators Overwhelmingly Favor Reforming or Abolishing Term Limits

October 31, 2022

Rusty Hills, Delaney Walsh, Thomas Ivacko

To learn more about the views of former state legislators—many of whom were term-limited out of office—a survey was conducted in 2020 and 2021. This policy brief highlights key findings about the former legislators’ lessons from serving in Lansing...

MPPS

Michigan local government leaders say civic relationships and civil discourse remain healthy, despite worsening national politics

October 12, 2022

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, as well as their assessments of civic relationships among elected...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Statewide survey finds a majority of Michigan local governments experiencing harassment or other abuse

September 8, 2022

This policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ experiences with public harassment, threats, or even violence as part of their role in local government. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the...

MPPS

Local leaders’ pessimism about Michigan’s direction continues, but eases slightly from last year

July 6, 2022

Student Working Papers

Evaluating the Outcome of the 2022 United States Redistricting Cycle: A Nonpartisan Review

May 30, 2022

Every decade the decennial US census is followed by a tumultuous process of redrawing state voting maps. This process gives states an opportunity to update their voting districts to account for shifting population distributions. In many states, this...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders report little change in the tone of civic discourse in their communities, but are concerned about local impacts of increasingly hostile national partisan politics

January 26, 2022

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 residents, between residents and elected officials, and among...

MPPS

Michigan local officials’ assessments of American democracy at the state and federal levels decline sharply

November 17, 2021

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 confidence in elections in their own jurisdiction, across...

MPPS

Local leaders' concerns about Michigan’s direction spike, while evaluations of state leaders sink over the past year

July 6, 2021

This report presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These...

Elected Officials’ Perceptions of Civic Discourse with and among Residents across the Urban-Rural Spectrum

June 1, 2021

Kyron Smith

Constructive civic discourse is essential to the productivity of government at all levels. Despite its importance, polarization like that which exists in politics appears to damage constructive discourse and has brought up the question, what...

Privatization of Local Government Services: Understanding Differences Across Michigan’s Urban- Rural Spectrum

June 1, 2021

Kristina Curtiss

For decades, municipalities have taken on numerous tasks that the private sector would have otherwise performed. Privatization of these services, and the way local governments prioritize them, draw into question the functioning of democracy. Be it...

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...

Internet Access and Connectivity across the Urban-Rural Spectrum

May 1, 2021

Julie Rubin

Broadband internet is a faster and more efficient way to access online services and information than traditional dial-up or satellite services. While broadband is becoming increasingly ubiquitous across the United States, there remains a “digital...

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

New Governor, new evaluations of the direction Michigan is headed among local leaders

August 1, 2019

MPPS

Positive working relationships reported among Michigan's local elected officials

June 1, 2019

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding relationships among members of their board or council as well as between the board/council and local government employees. Assessments include a look at various...

Policy Reports

Bright Line Watch - Report on March 2019 Expert Survey on State Democracy

May 1, 2019

Our March survey of academic experts included a state democracy module cosponsored by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School for Public Policy. The module asked expert respondents to rate...

Student Working Papers

Ethics & Transparency in Michigan: A State Falling Behind

March 1, 2019

Nick Guisinger

The United States Government and the various state governments all have laws establishing rules around government ethics and transparency. These are put in place to avoid conflicts of interest or corruption among public officials and to ensure that...

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

Local leaders’ views on elections in Michigan: accuracy, problems, and reform options

November 1, 2017

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders on issues related to election administration in their jurisdictions, including problems encountered, worker recruitment and training, updating voting equipment, and potential...

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...