Michigan Promote the Vote Ballot Initiative Challenge

Lawsuit filed by Promote the Vote 2022 (PTV22), a voting rights group advocating for a pro-voting ballot initiative in Michigan, challenging the Michigan Board of State Canvassers’ decision to not put PTV22’s ballot initiative on the state’s ballot this fall. Among other things, the ballot initiative would “amend the [Michigan] Constitution to add a fundamental right to vote;” extend deadlines for absentee ballots for certain voters; provide for drop boxes, postage, ballot tracking and guarantee early voting. Although PTV22 submitted more than 664,000 signatures when only 425,059 are needed for a constitutional amendment, a right-wing group challenged the measure and claimed it failed to specify how the proposal would amend the Michigan Constitution. Following this, the Republican members on the board voted against advancing the pro-voting measure and the 2-2 party line vote resulted in the petition’s removal from the ballot. The lawsuit filed by PTV22 alleges that the Board of State Canvassers violated PTV22’s right to due process under the Michigan Constitution by “refusing to certify the Proposal despite the Board approving the Proposal’s petition” and requests a writ of mandamus to force the board to certify the petition. On Sept. 8, 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered the Board of State Canvassers to place the constitutional amendment back on the ballot.

Last updated: September 8, 2022 5:41 pm EST