LANSING, Mich., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Michigan voters overwhelming approved a ballot measure to end preferential treatment for women and minorities because of previous discrimination.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting Wednesday, 58 percent of voters approved the anti-affirmative action Proposal 2, and 42 percent voted against it.
Michigan is the third U.S. state to ban preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting, the Detroit Free Press said.
The affirmative action proposal was prompted by the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding an admissions policy intended to retain diversity at the University of Michigan Law School. The high court struck down the university's affirmation action admission program for undergraduates because it awarded points based on race.
Michigan's Proposal 2 is expected to be challenged in court, the newspaper said.
