Advocacy News – July 15, 2026
The big picture: Last week, Protect MI Free Speech, a ballot question committee that includes the Michigan Chamber, filed a formal challenge with the Michigan Board of State Canvassers (BSC), arguing that the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) petition drive did not submit enough valid signatures to earn a place on the ballot.
Why it matters: According to the challenge, the Bureau of Elections’ 1,000-signature sample contains too many invalid signatures to meet Michigan’s certification threshold. Protect MI Free Speech says its review found widespread irregularities in the sample and full set of signatures, including:
- Signatures attributed to deceased individuals.
- Possible forged signatures.
- Duplicate signatures (some people signed as many as eight times).
- Signature and address errors.
- Signatures from individuals who were not registered voters.
- Circulator affidavit issues.
- Jurisdictional and address discrepancies.
- Several circulators included in the sample allegedly submitted additional petition sheets containing similar irregularities.
- At least two circulators allegedly signed their own petitions multiple times, raising questions about compliance with Michigan election law.
The challenge argues the issues extend beyond the state’s random sample – and argues these findings warrant a broader investigation of the entire petition submission, not just the 1,000-signature sample.
The numbers: To qualify for the ballot, MMOP must submit at least 356,958 valid signatures.
- Under Michigan’s statistical review process:
- 636 or more valid signatures in the 1,000-signature sample = certification.
- 635 or fewer valid signatures = denial.
- Protect MI Free Speech argues the sample contains no more than 568 valid signatures, which it says falls well below the certification threshold.
What they’re saying: “Before the free speech rights of everyday Michigan families are wiped out by this dark money-funded initiative, the Board of Canvassers must conduct a thorough investigation into the apparent submission of invalid signatures, including signatures from dead people,” said John Sellek, spokesperson for Protect MI Free Speech. Sellek also urged the Board to review the full petition submission, arguing Michigan has previously experienced significant problems with the petition process and that election laws must be enforced consistently.
What’s next: The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is expected to consider the challenge at its next meeting July 24.
The bottom line: Protect MI Free Speech is asking the Board to deny certification of the MMOP petitions and conduct a broader investigation into the petition submission before any proposal advances to the ballot.