By Mary Pollock
ELECTION INFORMATION
By October 6, four weeks before Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, the Secretary of State reported that mail ballot returns were up 30 percent over the same point in the 2022 midterm election cycle, indicating an unusually high interest in this election.
The Constitutionally mandated early voting period is October 24 through November 1, although some jurisdictions may add days or hours to this requirement. New voter registration or change of address to a new voting jurisdiction is required in person at your clerk’s office October 20 through November 3 with proof of identity and residency.
Because of all the threatened, real, and imagined shenanigans that might befall mailed ballots, a safe way to submit your absentee ballot is by voting it in person at an early voting site or on election day at your precinct. Another option is putting your absentee ballot in your jurisdiction’s election drop box.
Election details for your jurisdiction are available at www.michigan.gov/vote (the Michigan Voter Information Center), or from your city or township clerk. Help your family and friends who may have questions about voting from these reliable sources. Young people especially need help in navigating election matters.
Can you believe the candidate ads, the third-party attack ads, or your social media feed about candidates? Find some help with the non-partisan Michigan League of Women Voters candidate questionnaires at www.vote411.org; or examine the candidate’s websites; or Google the candidate’s name or name and your top issue for lots of media references to the candidate.
FEDERAL ELECTION ISSUE: SOCIAL SECURITY
For our federal representatives to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, an important factor for seniors and retirees to consider is the candidate’s position on saving Social Security from the predicted 2032 reduction in Social Security benefits. The people we elect now will be deciding on this issue in the next several years. See “Retirement Matters” by Joanne Bump in this issue of the SERA-Nade for details about the projected average reduction of $524 each month or $6,288 a year in Social Security benefits for 2 million Michiganders unless the people we elect this year find a solution.
U.S. Senate Race – A Google inquiry for a summary of U.S. Senate candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed’s positions on saving Social Security is quoted below.
Mike Rogers’ Position on Saving Social Security – Mike Rogers, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, has proposed reforms that could reduce benefits, change eligibility rules, and even privatize parts of the program (Yahoo+1).
- Campaign promises: While his campaign site says he will “protect seniors” Social Security and Medicare” (rogersforsenate.com), his past record and public statements show a willingness to overhaul the program, cut costs, and potentially reduce benefits (Yahoo+1).
- Bottom line: Rogers’ stated approach to “saving” Social Security is not to preserve the current system as-is, but to reform it through privatization, cost-cutting measures, and funding changes. This contrasts with a straightforward “protect and preserve” stance and includes policies that could reduce benefits or change eligibility rules (Yahoo+1).
Abdul ElSayed’s Position on Saving Social Security – U.S. Senate candidate Abdul ElSayed supports strengthening and preserving Social Security as part of his “Aging Affordably in America” (AAA) plan, which he says will ensure seniors have “Social Security they can live on” (abdulforsenate.com+1). Key elements of his Social Security position:
- Lift the Social Security payroll tax cap: ElSayed’s AAA Plan would remove the current $168,000 annual earnings cap on Social Security payroll taxes, so high earners contribute more toward the program (abdulforsenate.com+1).
- End taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors: He proposes eliminating federal taxes on Social Security benefits for retirees, increasing the amount seniors actually receive (abdulforsenate.com+1).
- Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset: These rules reduce Social Security benefits for people with other pensions; ElSayed says these should be ended to ensure fairness (abdulforsenate.com+1).
In summary: ElSayed’s position is to expand contributions, remove taxes on benefits for seniors, and repeal benefitreducing provisions, while keeping Social Security as a stable, adequate source of income for retirees.
U.S. House Races – In Michigan’s 13 U.S. House of Representative races, only four are considered competitive:
- 4th (Huizenga v McCann);
- 7th (Barrett v Lawrence);
- 8th (McDonald Rivet v Smith); and
- 10th (Bouchard v Hines).
The remainder are considered safe or lean Republican or Democrat. Do your own Google search on your district’s candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and their positions on saving Social Security.
PROPOSAL 1 AND PUBLIC RETIREES
Proposal 1 is automatically on the ballot every 16 years and asks us if we want to elect delegates to a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) and then vote on whatever changes the Con-Con might want to make. The Michigan Citizen’s Research Council at www.crcmichigan.org has non-partisan and extensive analysis of this ballot issue.
State retirees would be directly affected if a Con-Con were held and delegates wanted to amend the following provision about our public pensions:
Constitution-IX.§ 24 Public pension plans and retirement systems, obligation.
The accrued financial benefits of each pension plan and retirement system of the state and its political subdivisions shall be a contractual obligation thereof which shall not be diminished or impaired thereby.
Financial benefits arising on account of service rendered in each fiscal year shall be funded during that year and such funding shall not be used for financing unfunded accrued liabilities.
OTHER CANDIDATE RACES
State Senate – There will be significant turnover with 21 of the chamber’s 38 districts featuring either an open seat or term-limited incumbents. The next Senate Democratic Caucus is expected to have a majority of first-time senators, with 11 of today’s 20-member caucus not seeking reelection this year. Eight districts are considered competitive by lobby firm Kelley Cawthorne:
- 4th: Sen. Camilleri v. Marcie Grzywacz
- 9th: Sen. Webber v. Theresa Brooks
- 11th: Sen. Klinefelt v. Johnnie Townsend
- 12th: Sen. Hertel v. John Goldwater
- 13th: Sean Carlson v. Ryan Berman (Open) [Oakland]
- 30th: Sen. Huizenga v. Carol Glanville
- 32nd: Kim Cole v. Rebecca Amidon (Open) [Benzie, Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana]
- 35th: Sen. Greene v. Jason Tunney
The remainder are considered safe or lean Republican or Democrat.
Michigan House – In the Michigan House, Republicans will be defending their 58-52 majority and Dems wanting to pick up 4 seats to flip control. Kelley Cawthorne considers only 20 of the 110 seats to be competitive, the rest are solid or leaning to one of the two major parties. Michigan Information and Research Service has identified the top ten competitive races, here designated with *. Here are the 20 competitive districts:
- 13th: Rep. Xiong v. Mark Foster
- 22nd: Lisa McIntyre v. Casey Noce (Open) [Wayne]
- 27th*: Rep. Linting v. Jaime Churches
- 28th: Rep. Thompson v. Sherry Berecz
- 29th: Rep. DeSana v. Darian Counts
- 31st*: Shannon Dare Wayne v. Laura Perry (Open) [Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne]
- 38th: Rep. Andrews v. Mark Krieger
- 44th*: Rep. Frisbie v. Jim Haadsma
- 46th*: Rep. Schmaltz v. Jan Maino
- 48th: Rep. Conlin v. Brian Ignatowski
- 54th*: Roman Gaskey v. Sarah Pounds (Open) [Oakland]
- 55th*: Rep. Tisdel v. Alex Hawkins
- 57th: Rep. Kuhn v. Tom Turner
- 58th: Rep. Robinson v. Katrina Manetta
- 61st*: Rep. Mentzer v. Robert Wojtowicz
- 68th*: Rep. Martin v. Matt Schlinker
- 76th: Rep. Witwer v. Bill Kaiser
- 86th*: Rep. DeBoer v. Joseph McClusky
- 103rd: Rep. Coffia v. Edwin Dean
- 109th*: Rep. Bohnak v. Anna Aho Rink
NINE HOSTAGE BILLS UPDATE
Recall that the Michigan Supreme Court sided with the Michigan Senate’s lawsuit to require the Michigan House to release the nine bills that passed both chambers by the end of 2024 but that the House withheld in early January 2025. To everyone’s surprise the Governor vetoed the bills once the bills reached her desk.
The Senate Democrats reintroduced the nine bills with amendments to fix the problems the Governor identified in her veto message and passed them on September 10, 2026. They are now in the House Government Operations Committee awaiting consideration.
Senate Bill (SB) 1133, SB 1134, and SB 1135 of 2026 would allow Department of Corrections officers to join the Department of State Police pension system, while SB 1136 would require certain public employers to pay at least 80 percent toward healthcare costs and would permit unions to bargain more employer contribution. Bills to exempt public assistance, disability, and workers’ compensation from garnishment to repay debts (SB 1137 and SB 1138) were also introduced, as was SB 1139 and SB 1140, which would allow certain Detroit museums to pursue a millage for increased funding.
The House introduced its own museum millage bills and garnishment bills, House Bills (HBs) 6227, HB 6228, HB 6229, and HB 6230 which await further action.
RECENT BILLS SIGNED
Although state legislative activity has been minimal during this pre-election period, the Governor signed 23 bills sent to her earlier in the summer. Several are of interest to senior consumers.
Price Optimization – Under the new Public Act 98 of 2026 (SB 1013) sponsored by Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), price optimization in insurance would be prohibited in Michigan’s Insurance Code. Apparently, some insurance companies vary prices based on data they collect about individual customers, raising prices for loyal customers and creating specified pricing structures based on each customer’s personal price ceiling. The bill would define this as price optimization. Reportedly, 20 states have banned price optimization for insurance rates, and more states currently have legislation pending on the ban.
Landlord-Tenant Law – Public Acts 102 and 103 of 2026 (formerly SB 22 and 373, respectively), improve some landlord practices and convenience for tenants. Public Act 102 amends Michigan’s Landlord-Tenant Act to permit a landlord to return a security deposit to a tenant by check, direct bank deposit, or electronic funds transfer to a mobile payment application. The landlord would have to send the amount within ten days of mailing the required notice of damages claimed against a tenant’s security deposit. New Public Act 103 would amend the Truth in Renting Act to prohibit rental agreements from including a provision that imposed an additional charge or fee on all allowable methods of rent payments and would specify that at least one fee-free payment method would have to be available to a tenant.
Gift Card Fraud – Public Acts 109 and 110 of 2026,(HBs 4598 and 4599), sponsored by State Representative Mike Harris (R-Waterford Township) and State Representative Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) respectively, protects Michigan consumers by prohibiting gift card fraud, a common scam tactic. Gift card fraud is a popular tool for scammers because it is not regulated as strictly as debit or credit card fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, gift card fraud/imposter scams were the most reported forms of fraud in the U.S. in 2022, with losses totaling approximately $230 million nationwide. The new Michigan laws make gift card fraud a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Mary Pollock is the Lansing SERA chapter and SERA Coordinating Council Legislative Representative. She may be contacted at michigansera@comcast.net.