Michigan's Nov. 3 ballot is set with two statewide questions after the state Supreme Court this week rejected a last challenge to a campaign-finance measure, and courts separately blocked a proof-of-citizenship proposal from qualifying.

Proposal 1 asks whether to convene a new state constitutional convention. Proposal 2 asks whether to ban political donations from certain utilities and large government contractors.

Proposal 2, the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics initiative, cleared its last legal hurdle when the Michigan Supreme Court denied a challenge by Protect MI Free Speech, an opposition group funded in part by DTE-affiliated Michigan Energy First, Consumers' parent company CMS Energy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The group had filed suit Aug. 4, alleging the Board of State Canvassers failed to follow proper protocol when certifying the petition.

If approved, the measure would prohibit direct or indirect campaign contributions to Michigan politicians by DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and companies with more than $250,000 in state government contracts, according to Bridge Michigan. The ban would extend to immediate family members and others with close connections to those entities. The proposal would also expand campaign finance disclosure requirements to cover issue advertisements and online political advertising.

The Michigan House passed the initiative 77-26 on Aug. 26 under the state's citizen-petition process, which allows the Legislature to enact a citizen petition before it reaches voters. The proposal failed in the Senate, sending it to the ballot, Spectrum News reported.

John Sellek, spokesperson for Protect MI Free Speech, said the opposition campaign's focus between now and Nov. 3 is voter education. He said people need to "understand all the pros and cons before they vote on this in the fall," Sellek told WNMU.

Opponents argue the measure would not stop political spending by out-of-state groups, dark money nonprofits or labor unions, according to Bridge Michigan. Supporters counter that DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are seeking electric rate increases that would raise ratepayer bills by more than $900 million combined.

Proposal 1, the constitutional convention question, appears automatically every 16 years under Michigan's constitution. A preliminary Michigan Senate analysis estimates a convention could cost nearly $80 million, according to Michigan Public. If voters reject it, the question would not return until 2042. If they approve it, delegates would be elected and any proposed changes would go to voters for final approval.

Former Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette and former Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee both urged a "no" vote at a Sept. 2 bipartisan event in Flint. Schuette called the idea "a circus."

A third measure that had sought to require proof of citizenship to register to vote will not appear on the ballot. Both the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene on Thursday, Sept. 3. The state court ruled 6-1 that the Board of State Canvassers acted within its discretion when a 2-2 party-line deadlock blocked certification. Justice Brian Zahra dissented in part.

Americans for Citizen Voting had submitted 709,841 signatures but fell three short in a 1,000-signature sample audit by the Bureau of Elections. The ballot is closed. Chairman Paul Jacob said the campaign plans to try again in 2028.

Voters will decide both proposals on Nov. 3.