LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A newly formed Michigan House committee held its first hearing last week as lawmakers begin examining how state election officials review signatures for citizen-led ballot proposals.
‘Facts First, Conclusions Second’
The House Select Committee on the Rules and Procedures of the Bureau of Elections and the State Board of Canvassers is chaired by state Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford Township). Harris said the committee will focus on whether Michigan’s petition-review procedures are consistent and lawful, rather than the merits of individual ballot proposals.
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House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) has raised concerns about whether conservative- backed ballot proposals receive equal treatment when petition signatures are reviewed. Harris said he intends to approach the investigation with an open-minded and unbiased perspective.
“We are not here to decide whether we agree with the proposed amendment,” Harris said, describing the committee’s approach as “facts first, conclusions second.”
A committee advisory notice states “Committee members will work to protect the interests of Michigan residents by investigating possible weak points in the current system. Ultimately, the committee will decide whether policy changes are needed to reform the approval process.”
Citizen Voting Petition Sparks Review
The committee was created after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked over certification of the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal.
The group submitted 709,841 signatures for its proposed constitutional amendment. Election officials used a random sample of 1,000 signatures to determine whether the petition met the required threshold. The Bureau of Elections determined the petition did not have enough valid signatures in the sample to qualify.
Lawmakers plan to compare the recent petition reviews with other ballot measures and hear from petition organizers, election officials and outside experts.
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Harris said the committee hopes to complete its investigation and issue a report with findings and possible recommendations by the end of the year. He told reporters members can realistically expect to meet weekly.
Next Hearing
The committee’s next hearing is scheduled for Monday, September 21.
