ECU Announces Six-Figure Voter Outreach Program Focused on Michigan Ballot Initiative

End Citizens United Education Fund, the nonprofit arm of End Citizens United, today announced a six-figure program focused on educating voters about Michigan's Proposal 2, a ballot measure concerning political contributions and campaign finance disclosure. With early voting starting Saturday, voters will have the opportunity to consider the proposed changes to Michigan’s state campaign finance laws.

ECU’s program includes:

Over 100,000 educational postcards mailed to voters statewide
A digital ad that will run statewide from October 20 through November 2

Under Proposal 2, regulated utility companies would be prohibited from making political contributions to state officeholders and political party campaigns. Corporations with more than $250,000 in annual state or local contracts would also face restrictions on contributions to candidates in jurisdictions where those contracts are held.

The proposal also includes changes to campaign finance disclosure requirements. Groups that run advertisements referring to candidates or ballot issues would be required to report donors and expenses to the state, and political advertising on internet and digital platforms would be subject to existing disclosure laws.

Political contributions from regulated utilities are allowed under Michigan’s current campaign finance laws. During the 2022 election cycle, 93% of members in the Michigan Legislature had accepted contributions from DTE’s corporate PAC, its executives and lobbyists, or both.

The outreach materials seeking to educate voters on Prop 2 are below.

Digital ad informing Michigan voters about Prop 2

First postcard back side

Second postcard back side