LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is urging Michigan voters to oppose a ballot proposal that would call a new constitutional convention to rewrite the state's governing document, saying the effort could be used to undo reproductive rights.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Democratic governor came out in opposition to the proposal largely on the grounds that a convention could be used to "roll back and undermine women's reproductive freedom."
"This is not an attempt to work around the will of the people," Whitmer said. "It is an attempt to undo the will of the people. And we can't let that happen."
Whitmer's brief remarks, delivered in about five minutes of a Zoom call, were part of a press conference alongside Planned Parenthood of Michigan, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, and Reproductive Freedom for All. She did not take questions during the appearance.
Reproductive Freedom at the Center
The governor's statement came after state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, suggested this month that a new constitutional convention could be used to adopt a 12-week ban on abortion. DeBoyer later walked back the statement.
"We need to keep fighting for reproductive freedom in Michigan," Whitmer said. "We can't let up now. This is not done, unfortunately."
The webinar occurred independently of the Protect MI Constitution from Special Interests coalition, the official "no" campaign that includes groups like the Michigan Catholic Conference.
Right to Life Pushes Back
Right to Life of Michigan has also said it is opposed to a constitutional convention, but argued Democrats were using the proposal to wrongly suggest that abortion is on the ballot.
"Abortion is not on the ballot," Amber Roseboom, president of Right to Life of Michigan, said this month.
What the Ballot Question Asks
The November ballot question will ask whether voters want the state to convene a Constitutional Convention to rewrite the state's 1963 constitution. Under a provision in the 63-year-old constitution, the question automatically comes before Michigan voters every 16 years and has been rejected the last three times it was on the ballot.
If a majority of voters approve it on Nov. 3, the state would elect 148 delegates next spring, who would begin meeting no later than Oct. 5, 2027, to rewrite the state constitution. Delegates would have unlimited time to complete the rewrite, which would have to be adopted by a majority of delegates and then be put to a statewide vote within 90 days.
Advocates Weigh In
Paula Thornton-Greear, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Michigan, echoed Whitmer's concerns, arguing a convention could undo the abortion rights enshrined in the state constitution in 2022.
"If Proposal 1 is allowed to pass, the consequences would be devastating," Thornton-Greear said. "The Michigan Constitution will be rewritten and the right to abortion would be erased."
Loren Khogali, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, argued there aren't clear processes in place in the current constitutional language to ensure the election of delegates is an equitable one.
"The challenge with the constitutional convention is that it opens up the constitution to a complete rewrite without the guarantees of an equitable process around that selection and nomination and election of delegates," Khogali said.
Some voters supporting Proposal 1 have argued the extreme scenarios being floated by opponents ignore the reality that any rewritten constitution would eventually have to go back before voters for final approval. That final vote, they say, serves as a check on some of the radical amendments that have been suggested.
The Detroit News' Craig Mauger contributed to this report.