The group, co-founded by Michigan State University professors in the Department of Political Science, Sarah Rechow, Liam Richichi, Nazita Lajevardi and Adam Delay, officially organized in spring 2026 and is out collecting signatures now.

They are required to collect signatures from 5% of registered voters in East Lansing and submit them to the city clerk by July 28, 2026.

If they meet the mark, the petition goes on the ballot for the November election, where East Lansing voters will decide if they want to adopt the charter revision to have even-year city council elections.

If the petition passes, the revision would be implemented by the city council. This would move the next city council election from 2027 to 2028.

While there has been previous political science research done about disparities in voter turnout when elections take place in odd years, Rechow and her fellow co-founders have collected data about the disparities in East Lansing specifically.

On average, there was approximately 35% less voter turnout between the East Lansing 2024 general election and the 2025 local election across all age groups. With almost 45% less voter turnout for voters in their 20s and 30s, according to the Let East Lansing Vote website.

Richichi, an MSU alum and current Chair of the 7th Congressional District Democratic Party, said one of the common misconceptions from the potential pushback for this initiative stems from the concern that this is only to get students on and off campus to vote.

However, the group emphasizes that in a time of voter disenfranchisement in the form of legislation like the Save Act, their initiative is in favor of democracy, broad civic engagement and ensuring every demographic in East Lansing is represented.

“Past research has taught us that it is wealthier people, older people and typically homeowners who show up to vote in (odd) elections,” Lajevardi, an associate professor of political science at MSU, said. “That means that young people, renters, lower-income residents and frankly many voters of color- they’re the ones that are most disenfranchised in odd-year elections.”

This initiative would also save the city of East Lansing at least $60,000 to $80,000 a year by condensing election cycles to even-numbered years, Richichi said, adding that during the last city council election, a big issue was budgetary problems.

“Figuring out ways to save money and save time for the city is going to be really crucial that we continue to do that, and make sure that we’re holding the city and its finances accountable,” Richichi said.

Rechow explained that this initiative is not new to the East Lansing area. In 2023, an effort was made by the council but was turned down by the governor and attorney general.

After that, Let East Lansing Vote discovered another grassroots group in Grand Rapids called Empower The Citizens, which successfully revised their city charter to require city council elections in even-numbered years.

Let East Lansing Vote used the success of Empower the Citizens as a guide, looking into the steps they took to get approval and adjusting them to fit East Lansing. 

“There have been people in the community for a while who have talked about this. It’s something I’ve talked to people about for years,” Rechow said.

Lajevardi said that formalizing protections and rules to protect the right to vote is a kind of core tenet of democracy, and it’s all about ensuring that people have the ability to exercise their right to vote.

While Let East Lansing Vote emphasizes that the current petition to change elections to even-numbered years is not solely to increase student voter turnout, it will aid in eliminating a barrier for student voters, Lajevardi said, adding that with such busy schedules, it can be difficult to find the time to go to the polling place on Election Day. Voting in odd years on only local matters can be a roadblock for voters. 

“From young adults to parents to older adults and Gen Xers and millennials, they should all have a say in our elections, and that only happens when we have a say in our elections,” Richichi said. 

For more information on how to engage with Let East Lansing Vote, visit their website at leteastlansingvote.com.