A proposal to require proof of citizenship and stricter voter ID rules in Michigan is unlikely to appear on the November ballot after state officials found it lacked enough valid signatures, leaving only two statewide questions for voters this fall
A Michigan ballot initiative seeking to require proof of citizenship for all voters and tighten voter ID rules is not expected to appear on the November 3 ballot after the state Bureau of Elections determined the campaign did not submit enough valid signatures.
The group behind the proposal, Americans for Citizen Voting-Michigan, submitted more than 709,800 signatures in March, well above the 446,198 required for ballot access. However, a review by the Bureau of Elections found that only 434,423 signatures were valid, falling short by nearly 12,000. The review cited issues such as signers not being registered to vote in the city or township listed and duplicate signatures.
Board of State Canvassers to Decide
The Bureau's findings are not final. The bipartisan Board of State Canvassers will make the ultimate decision on whether the proposal qualifies for the ballot at its meeting scheduled for August 24. If the board agrees with the Bureau's recommendation, the measure will not appear on the November ballot, leaving voters with only two statewide questions: a constitutionally required question on whether to convene a constitutional convention, and a separate initiative to ban political spending by regulated utilities and large government contractors.
The proposal would have required all voters to verify their citizenship and mandated the removal of noncitizens from voting rolls after a 45-day response period. It also sought to eliminate the option for voters without ID to cast a ballot by affidavit and called on lawmakers to provide low-income residents with free access to citizenship documents.
Signature Review and Campaign Response
According to the Bureau of Elections, staff reviewed a sample of 1,000 petition signatures and determined that only 612 were valid, below the 629 needed to recommend certification. Many signatures were disqualified due to registration issues or duplication. Americans for Citizen Voting-Michigan has raised over $9 million for the campaign, with significant funding from Restoration of America, a dark money group based in Illinois.
Kristin Combs, spokesperson for Americans for Citizen Voting-Michigan, said the group is reviewing the Bureau's findings and intends to respond. She emphasized that more than 700,000 Michiganders signed the petition and deserve a vote on the issue.
What Happens Next
If the Board of State Canvassers upholds the Bureau's recommendation, the only citizen-initiated measure on the November ballot will be the "Money Out of Politics" proposal, which aims to restrict political spending by certain entities. Voters will also decide on the constitutional convention question, which appears every 16 years by law.
The process for qualifying a ballot initiative in Michigan requires campaigns to collect a minimum number of valid signatures from registered voters. The Bureau of Elections conducts a sample review to verify validity, and the Board of State Canvassers makes the final determination. This process is designed to ensure that only proposals with broad support reach the ballot.
For Michigan residents interested in how local institutions are supporting civic participation, a recent initiative at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University is connecting students with basic needs support to help them stay on track for graduation. More details are available in this report on expanded campus support services for Detroit college students.
