Michigan Canvassers Certify Utility Political Spending Ban Proposal

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers voted 3-1 on Friday to certify petition signatures for a ballot proposal that would prohibit regulated utilities and large government contractors from spending money on state elections. The initiative, led by Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, targets the political influence of corporations such as Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.

The decision followed intense scrutiny of 561,282 submitted signatures. An opposition group, Protect MI Free Speech, challenged the validity of the petitions, alleging they were sloppy and contained numerous errors. However, the board determined that 645 signatures in a 1,000-signature sample were valid, which exceeded the state's recommended threshold.

The Michigan Legislature has 40 days to approve the measure as law to prevent it from appearing on the November 3 general election ballot. Protect MI Free Speech has indicated it may pursue legal action to block the proposal, citing staff mistakes and signature errors.