FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2025
Contact: press@rankmivote.org
With their amendment language officially approved, Rank MI Vote is hosting field launch events across Michigan starting this week
When Executive Director Pat Zabawa ceremonially signs the campaign’s first petition sheet at 9:01am Thursday morning, Rank MI Vote will officially launch the signature-collection phase of the campaign to bring Ranked Choice Voting to Michigan. Starting this weekend, they will be holding field launch events in communities across the state, including the Latin Americans United for Progress Fiesta in Holland and at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
“One down, 446,197 to go,” said Zabawa. “Obviously, we have our work cut out for us: when we qualify for the ballot, it will have taken the biggest signature collection campaign in Michigan history. That might intimidate some campaigns, but it’s what this team is built for. We have thousands of volunteers who are very eager to win this with shoe leather and hard work. We’re now in the stage of the campaign where progress is measured in how much ink we put on paper and how many conversations we have with our friends and neighbors. Stay tuned for big things: you’re going to see this campaign absolutely take off.”
The petition circulating process — projected to be the biggest in Michigan history — must, within a six-month window, collect 446,198 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot.
To find a place to sign the petition near them, Michigan voters are encouraged to visit RankMIVote.org.
Rank MI Vote has seen thousands of new volunteer sign-ups in the last two months — a pace that has increased since their petition was unanimously approved by the Michigan Board of Canvassers on June 27th. According to Rank MI Vote field leaders, they’re seeing not just an uptick in the number of new volunteers signing up, but their enthusiasm as well.
“The volunteer energy we’ve seen recently has been beautiful,” said Rank MI Vote Co-Field Director Kate Grabowsky. “This is a great ‘problem’ to have, but it’s been a full-time job keeping up with all the new volunteers signing up. The new folks can’t wait to take their clipboards to concerts, festivals, and street corners to start having these important conversations with Michigan voters about how Ranked Choice Voting benefits all of us.”
When passed by voters, the amendment will bring Ranked Choice Voting to federal and statewide elections in Michigan. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, guaranteeing that candidates must receive majority support to win.
You can learn more about the benefits of the proposal here.
About Rank MI Vote
Rank MI Vote (RMV) is a non-partisan, volunteer-led organization dedicated to bringing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to Michigan via a constitutional amendment ballot initiative in 2026. RMV envisions a future where every voter feels heard, every vote matters, and democracy reflects the people — not party elites and special interests.
Click here for Press Kit (includes images and videos from the campaign, frequently asked questions, and other materials)
