Both Indiana and Michigan voters will see public questions on their ballots this year

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- For Hoosier voters, they will find two public questions on their ballots. The first proposal would allow judges to deny bail in additional circumstances. Question two would allow local town and city court judges to live outside the jurisdiction they serve.

"One of the public questions that people will see on their ballot this year is whether or not bail should be able to be denied to people who are guilty of crimes other than murder and treason.” said Chancellor’s professor of political science at Indiana University South Bend, Elizabeth Bennion, “Currently, our state constitution really allows a denial of bail in cases where the defendant is charged with murder or treason."

Supporters say this amendment protects public safety by withholding bail when strong evidence proves a defendant poses a danger to the community. Meanwhile, opponents say it undermines the presumption of innocence and civil liberties by relying on subjective danger assessments that could lead to unfair pretrial detention for nonviolent offenses.

"The second public question asks whether or not judges for local town and city courts should be able to live outside of the specific jurisdiction, that city or town in which the court is located” said Bennion.

Bennion says that some small communities are having a very difficult time finding legally qualified people who want to serve as judges, so this change would create a larger pool of candidates. Opponents generally say they prefer for the judge to have a direct connection to the community.

Public questions are also appearing on the ballot for Michigan voters this election. While these statewide proposals do not happen every year, experts urge voters to get informed, so they are not caught off guard at the ballot box.

Proposal One asks voters whether Michigan should hold a constitutional convention to revise the state's constitution. It is a standard question asking voters if they want to convene a convention, a process that requires a second voter approval down the road if passed. So why should Michigan voters care?

"I think voters should still be interested in it because the last time we changed the Michigan Constitution was 1963, and some of our cultural and social adaptations have occurred.” said professor of political science at Lake Michigan College, Tiffany, Bohn, “So there might be some language that might be of interest to voters if they feel the Michigan State Constitution needs to be updated, like citizens' rights, not voter rights, but personal rights, freedoms, things of that nature, property rights, eminent domain could be a consideration as well."

Proposal Two focuses on updating state campaign finance rules to include digital and social media advertising, bringing Michigan's rules into the digital age by requiring clear sponsor disclosures on social media and internet ads, not just traditional TV broadcasts.

"The gist of Proposal Two is to update the campaign finance language so that if there is language that is a specific endorsement that includes language like 'vote for' or 'vote against,' there has to be specific identification of who paid for the ad.” Said Bohn, “It also includes internet and not just television. So it's updating our existing campaign finance to include internet and other social media ads as well."

Professor Bohn says Michigan voters looking for nonpartisan analysis on candidates and ballot proposals can check out resources like the Citizens Research Council of Michigan to learn more before heading to the polls.