Few and Fewer: Odd-Year Election Ballot Initiatives

Sponsors of ballot initiatives appear to know odd-year proposals have little chance of passage.

 

As the 2017 elections approach, analysts say a trend is emerging in Michigan and other states:

Odd-year elections are bringing fewer statewide ballot initiatives.

This year, 27 different measures are certified for ballots in just nine states. Michigan is not one of them.

A number of reasons explain why odd-year ballot proposals are becoming taboo, says Bill Ballenger, publisher of the online political blog the Ballenger Report.

“We’ve only had four, and all have gone down to big defeats,” Ballenger says. “I don’t think we’re gonna see many more of these.”

Click on the audio link above to hear the entire conversation

 

Author

  • Amy has been working in public and commercial radio for the last 30 yrs. She is an award winning reporter and news anchor, born and raised in Detroit.