Our neighbours in Michigan may not have to worry about the twice-a-year clock change if a referendum goes on the ballot.
A bill was introduced last week in the Michigan State Senate, proposing a ballot proposal. If approved by voters, it will eliminate daylight saving time (DST) in the Wolverine State.
Senate Bill 770, introduced by Republicans Thomas Albert of Lowell and Joe Bellino of Monroe, would place the question on the November general election ballot.
"It has been more than 100 years since our nation first experimented with daylight saving time, and we find ourselves still asking the same question, why do we do this?" Albert told Detroit station WDIV Local 4. "I, for one, cannot find a valid reason. It seems to me that changing our clocks twice a year is a poor and unnecessary policy. But I know opinions differ, and daylight saving time affects every Michigander in some way. That is why I propose putting this to a vote of the people."
The bill has been referred to the Michigan Senate's Committee on Government Operations.
Should voters agree, Michigan will remain on standard time year-round. Four counties in the western Upper Peninsula, which border Wisconsin, are in the Central Time Zone.
It would not be the first time this area of North America has considered either making daylight saving time permanent or dropping it completely. In 2020, the Ontario government unanimously passed a bill ditching the time change and making DST permanent. However, it would only take effect if Quebec and New York State also agreed to do so.
Michigan voters had previously rejected daylight saving time in a 1968 referendum but changed their minds in 1972.