LWV Michigan PRESS RELEASE: Monday, Jan. 24, 2022
Michigan Supreme Court overturns requirements that would place limits on petition signature gathering - League of Women Voters of Michigan applauds Court’s decision to protect petitioning rights
LANSING – In a victory for voting rights, the Michigan Supreme Court today overturned some requirements that would limit how Michigan residents can petition for ballot initiatives. In a complaint filed jointly in 2021 by the League of Women Voters of Michigan and other election reform advocates, the groups asked the Michigan Supreme Court to overturn parts of Public Act 608 of 2018, which changed procedures by which petitions could be circulated. The court struck down a 15 percent cap on signatures on a petition that could be counted from a single congressional district, as well as the requirement that paid circulators file an affidavit before circulation.
The Court’s decision today is a victory for voters,” said Christina Schlitt, copresident of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. “The extreme obstacles PA 608 posted would have prevented the will of the people from being carried out and would have silenced the voices of voters. Thank you to the Michigan Supreme Court for rightly striking down these problematic measures.
By striking these measures down, the Court has reaffirmed that ‘all political power is inherent in the people,’ as stated in Michigan’s Constitution,” said Paula Bowman, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. “Petitioning is our most direct exercise of democracy, and we must protect it to ensure voters have their voices heard.
The complaint was originally filed by the League of Women Voters of Michigan, Progress Michigan, the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes and Michigan for Fair and Transparent Elections. View a PDF of the court’s decision..The League of Women Voters of Michigan is the state league for the U.S. League of Women Voters, which is a nonpartisan political organization that aims to encourage informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Learn more at lwvmi.org.
