Michigan Government

The court Friday ordered the state canvassing board to certify Unlock Michigan petitions, paving the way for the Republican-led Legislature to repeal an invalidated law Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to issue unilateral emergency orders early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Should farmers get more clout in redistricting? Or churches? Those are among the ideas emerging from a statewide listening tour from a group charged with redrawing Michigan’s political districts.

This continuously updated post includes details of Michigan's elections, campaigns, politics and voting news.

Michigan’s Senate extends expired licenses and waives fees in a bid to force Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to abandon her appointment-only system for branch services.

The task force will study the factors that contribute to juvenile detention and develop policy recommendations to reduce the number of children incarcerated by the justice system often for noncriminal offenses.

Unlike all but two states, Michigan does not require lawmakers to publicly disclose financial data. Reforms passed Wednesday would keep it that, requiring disclosures to a private panel.

A House bill would bar 24 Michigan cities from imposing taxes on non-resident workers. Critics say that would be ‘catastrophic,’ but one Republican says ‘Thomas Jefferson would be proud.’

A proposed $405 million infusion to the Great Start Readiness Program could come from federal COVID funds and the state’s school aid fund. It would provide free preschool to 17,000 more children from low- and moderate-income families.

Breonna Taylor’s mom tells Michigan lawmakers to ban no-knock warrants as the Legislature considers reforming the practice, which allows police to enter a private premises without announcing their presence.

Jocelyn Benson says her department still needs $25 million from the state to get through a backlog of appointments for car registrations and license transfers caused by the pandemic.

The GOP wants Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to investigate whether a trip to visit the governor’s father was a legitimate campaign expense.

Six months after Congress certified the 2020 election, pro-Trump officials in the Michigan Republican Party want the state Legislature to order an audit.

Michigan communities got millions for elections last year from a nonprofit connected to Facebook’s founder. Is the money long overdue or a dangerous precedent?

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s economic plan would also direct money to help parents offset childcare expenses and enable businesses to cover operational costs. She must negotiate the plan with a GOP-majority legislature.

The state stands by its total of nursing home deaths, but acknowledges some other types of senior facilities haven’t reported all deaths. ‘We shouldn’t be guessing,’ one lawmaker says.

Democrats want to spend $25 million to hire more staff. Republicans don’t want to fork over more money until the state allows walk-in service again.

Republicans in the Senate pass a bill to require the governor to inform legislative leaders when she leaves Michigan. That’s a security risk, state police say.

Supporters say you need an ID to buy beer so you should need one to vote. Foes say eliminating an option allowing voters without ID to still cast ballots amounts to an illegal fee. The courts may decide.

The state’s bars and restaurants will be allowed to stay open later and serve more customers regardless of size. The relaxed rules come as Michigan also surpasses 60 percent of residents getting their first vaccine dose.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s nursing home policies have been under scrutiny for months. Now, a review shows more may have died in the facilities than initially known.