MichiganRadio

Changing How The Detroit City Council Is Elected ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Detroit voters may have to decide in November if they want to change the way city council members are chosen.

Thousands of petitions signatures were delivered Wednesday to the county clerk's office, proposing to change Detroit city charter.

The change would allow for the election of city council persons by district instead by a city-wide vote.

Presently, all 9 Detroit city council members are elected by the whole city.

Under the new proposal, 7 council members would be elected by voters in individual districts.

Mildred Madison is with the League of Women Voters. She says people want council members who understand their needs.

"They'd rather have a councilmember who lived in the area. Who understood what they were going through. Who are close and personal," says Madison.

Detroit voters could decide the council-by-district proposal this fall.

Detroit has been electing its city council members with a city wide vote for more than 90 years. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio