While Republicans currently control the Legislature, Lon Johnson, chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party, believes his party has the potential to make significant gains in the next election.

With a platform focused on restoring education funding across the state, as well as ensuring an equitable tax system, Johnson said his party has a strong pitch for voters.

“All the way from governor to drain commission, we’re going to talk about how to keep people in Michigan,” he said.

Johnson also emphasized his party’s efforts to educate voters on the recent cuts to business taxes to the tune of $1.8 billion, the cost of which he maintains has been passed onto working families and pensioners.

Darren Littell, the communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, said his party will focus on fiscal issues and illustrating the progress made during the past four years.

“(We’re going to) make the case to voters on how much of an improvement has been made,” Littell said.

Michigan ranked fourth in the nation for capital investments in 2012, something Littell believes demonstrates the success of Gov. Snyder’s policies.

“(The) key is creating an environment where businesses can grow and hire more people,” he concluded.

Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, said Democrats have to recruit a strong field of candidates and step up their fundraising efforts if they hope to make a dent in the conservative majority.

GOP members currently hold a 10-seat advantage in the House, a gap Ballenger said Democrats have a chance of closing in the upcoming election. However, in the Senate, where the Republicans currently hold a 26-12 majority, he was doubtful Democrats could wrest control from their conservative cohorts. The Republican majority in the Senate is the most substantial it has been since the Eisenhower era, according to Ballenger.

Another obstacle for Democrats is low voter turnout, a concern Ballenger said plagues Democrats in nonelection years. In 2010, just two years after the election of President Barack Obama, Republicans managed to sweep elections across the state, while just two years later, in a presidential election year, Democrats managed to pick up five House seats, according to Ballenger.

East Lansing City Clerk Marie McKenna said proposed changes with voting districts aim to make voting easier for students both on and off campus.

“We’re hoping that by simplifying boundaries, all students on campus will vote on campus and all students off campus will vote off campus,” McKenna said.

By making several popular campus destinations, including the Union and IM Sports-East and IM Sports-West voting locations, McKenna is confident students will have an easier time voting and will perhaps be more disposed to vote in local and state elections.

“It’s important to get students involved as soon as they are able to vote,” she said.