President Trump and Republicans want to change our elections in substantial ways. 

Recently, the president signed an executive order that seeks to change how mail-in voting works, having it overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. Trump and Republicans are also trying to pass the SAVE Act, which would ensure voters provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration, and a photo ID at the time of voting.

All of this is happening as the president has called to “nationalize the elections”, and as MAGA influencer Steve Bannon has asked ICE officials to patrol polling locations in November. 

What should we make of all these things? How secure are our voting systems? And, is the president trying to make voting less secure for his advantage?

Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent about this and more.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Michigan, like the rest of the country, has faced polarizing political winds. Because of all the disagreement, fewer policies are making it through the state legislature. 

But that doesn’t mean political change isn’t possible in the state. A major vehicle for policy change has been ballot initiatives. Cannabis legalization, the end of gerrymandering, and the expansion of reproductive freedoms all were passed by ballot initiative over the last 8 years. 

And that leaves a pressing question now: Why have so many ballot initiatives from the left failed to make it to the ballot this year? Already, the initiative for ranked choice voting, an effort to tax rich people to fund Michigan schools, and a campaign to create one minimum wage for Michiganders all failed to make it on the 2026 ballot.  

Why? And, what does this say about the state of liberals and the Democratic Party in Michigan?

Colin Jackson is a Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He spoke about this with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

In this episode

• Senator Gary Peters shares why he is not running for reelection.
• Updates with the rank choice voting initiative

Senator Gary Peters’ announcement about not seeking reelection shocked the political world because of his favorability and success. This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services’ Zach Gorchow talk with the Senator to hear his reasons behind his decision, and they discuss his plans for the remainder of his term.  

Peters shared that he never saw himself in his position for a lifetime and that he likened how the founding fathers intended political leadership positions. “…like the founding fathers…you serve for a period of time and then you go back to private life. I have served in Congress for years. When I leave at the end of next year it will be 18 years. I think that is a good run” 

Peters also noted that politics is becoming more partisan, and it’s becoming harder to find common ground.  

Cheyna and Zach also discuss the recent news on rank choice voting. The group pushing put this new voting system in Michigan said they will retarget their efforts for 2028. Cheyna noted this may have been because they didn’t have enough signatures. You need 466,000 valid signatures from registered voters to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot.  

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Is ranked choice voting a better system for Michiganders?
• MichMash: Sen. Gary Peters’ retirement; Duggan on running for governor as an independent and more
• MichMash: Bipartisan approaches to Violent Crime Clearance Act, privacy, and more

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.