Michiganders will be seeing a local ballot measure in the upcoming Michigan Primary Election

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Michigan Primary Election is approaching fast, with only two weeks left until the official day, and this year, there’s a local ballot measure that you should know about. 

Howard Charter Township will have a proposal on the ballot to return to its previous status as a general law township. So what does this mean? In Michigan, charter townships have more protection from being annexed by other cities, and they also have more power to pass local ordinances. 

Howard Township was first chartered in 2022 when it became eligible for charter status because of its population and tax base.  

Catherine Mullhaupt is the staff attorney for the Michigan Townships Association. We asked Mullhaupt why Howard Township wasn't to give up its charter status. She said that there could be three reasons why a township might want to disincorporate. Those being annexation, millage, and possibly unruly supervisors.   

“It is not uncommon for townships to change their status, between general and charter, and we had a recent flurry in the last five years of townships going charter, one of the biggest ones since the 80’s. But I don't know what would be promoting someone, and I believe they did charter in that flurry, so I don't know what has changed now that might make them want to disincorporate,” Mullhaupt said.

Voting for the Michigan Primary Elections will be on August 4th.