Michigan uncommitted voting trend

LEIA LEHER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ELIZABETH VREDEVELT
STAFF WRITER

3/18/2024

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Michigan primary election saw a record-breaking 13% of Michigan democratic voters – roughly 100,000 – mark “uncommitted” to any candidate on their ballot. 

Since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, calls for a ceasefire have been growing across the United States and the world, with many feeling their calls are unheard and unanswered in Washington where the Biden administration has continued to fund Israeli military efforts. 

Just two weeks before Michigan’s primary, a new aid package including $14 billion for Israel was passed in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which many voters saw as a sign of the Biden administration’s unwavering support of Israel.

February’s primary election allowed voters in Michigan to choose between Joe Biden, Marianne Williamson, Dean Philips or none of the above by voting “uncommitted.”  More than 100,000 voters chose the latter as a form of protest.

“I find a lot of hope in seeing this transcendent multi-faith, multi-racial and multi-generational anti-war vote,” said Maya Dora-Laskey, Associate Professor of English at Alma College who has been outspoken about their support of the uncommitted voting movement. 

The success of Michigan’s protest seems to be only the beginning of this movement, as “Super Tuesday” saw record numbers of uncommitted voters across the five participating states, and campaigns are currently popping up in nearly every state that allows voters this option. 

It is important to note that only a handful of states have write-in options for alternative candidates as opposed to a “no preference” or “uncommitted” choice, so not every state can equally participate in this form of protest.

At a national level, the protest has sparked some administrative response, especially from Kamala Harris who called for an immediate ceasefire, but many voters see this as performative and not a substantive policy shift. 

“Despite the public displays and statements, the administration continues the flow of weapons and other support to Israel without using the substantial powers and influence of the U.S. presidency to actually halt Israel’s bombing,” said Dora-Laskey.

While this era that we are living in is certainly new, this election cycle’s likely nominees from both parties certainly are not, leaving many voters with a discouraging sense of ballot déjà-vu. 

“I think [this election] is somewhat unprecedented…Each individual piece of it isn’t necessarily unprecedented but when you put it all together, I think it’s a pretty unique election,” said Benjamin Peterson, Co-Director of the Center for College and Community Engagement and Lecturer of History and Political Science at Alma College. 

In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump by 10,704 votes, far less than the more than 100,000 who voted “uncommitted” in this last primary. For Biden, this is a wake-up call. 

“It reminds everyone that the Democrats’ only path to victory runs straight through Michigan,” says Peterson. 

While this movement is unlikely to change whether Biden receives the Democratic candidate nomination, particularly with his position as incumbent, it certainly gives the administration an ultimatum to act on this current crisis. Michigan voters have laid down the gauntlet, but the long-term impacts of the movement remain to be seen.