Ballot Qualifications & Schedule
Date Initiative language can be submitted: Any time
Signatures are tied to vote of which office: Governor
Next gubernatorial election: 2010
Votes cast for Governor in Gubernatorial election: 3,821,290
Net number of signatures required: For statutes, 8% of votes cast for
Governor (305,703 signatures.) For amendments, 10% of votes cast for
Governor (382,129 signatures.) For statutes, if the petition contains a
sufficient number of valid signatures the state legislature has 40 session
days to adopt or reject the proposal. If the legislature rejects the law, then
the measure is placed on the next general election ballot. For
amendments, if the petition contains a sufficient number of valid
signatures the measure is placed immediately on the next general
election ballot.
Distribution Requirement: None.
Circulation period: 180 days. (Michigan law states that proponents must
submit signatures that have been gathered within a 180-day period and
that the number of valid signatures must be at least equal to the required
amount for the initiative to qualify for the ballot. The signatures can be
gathered, however, within any 180-day period. Thus, proponents can
gather signatures for as long as they want – but they can only submit
signatures gathered within the same 180-day period.)
Do circulators have to be residents: No
Date when signatures are filed for certification: For amendments, at least
120 days prior to the 2002 general election (Early July – date to be
confirmed). For statutes, signatures must be submitted at least 10 days
prior to the start of the 2009 legislature (Late May – date to be confirmed)
Signature verification process: Random sample.
Single-subject restriction: No
Legislative tampering: Legislature can repeal and amend by a ¾ vote of
each house or as otherwise provided by the initiative.
Excerpted from the Initiative & Referendum Almanac by M. Dane Waters.