LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 5, 2024) — The Michigan Senate Committee on Elections and Ethics this week favorably voted on a package of bills to improve transparency and integrity in the petition circulation process.
Senate Bill 1108 would ban petition organizers from paying circulators per signature, joining other states that remove this financial incentive for circulators to lie to voters to gain their signature. Senate Bill 1109 would require circulators to direct potential signers to a factual summary of the ballot proposal’s contents before collecting their signature.
Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), Chair of the Elections and Ethics Committee and bill sponsor of SBs 1108 and 1109, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued the following statements:
“The petition process is a vital mechanism for Michiganders to make their voices heard and shape the future of our state. However, for it to be effective, the process must be fair, transparent, and free from abuse. These bills introduce much-needed updates to improve fairness and accountability in the petition process. By addressing concerns about unethical practices, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that every valid signature counts, this legislation strengthens a critical tool for citizen advocacy. Together, these reforms create a more reliable and trustworthy system that reflects the values of our democracy and ensures that the process is effective in amplifying the voices of everyday citizens,” said Sen. Moss.
“Michigan voters deserve to have confidence that their system of elections is fair, accurate, and secure. The improvements outlined in this package will help encourage civic engagement statewide, while closing a loophole in our current statute which we have seen bad actors misuse for their fraudulent aims. I applaud the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee for advancing this vital legislation and will continue my advocacy for its passage as it moves to the Senate floor,” said Attorney General Nessel.
“For years we’ve seen candidates and others abuse and manipulate our state’s petition circulation process for financial or political gain. This fraud and abuse in the petition process hurts candidates, parties and voters and is a threat to the integrity of Michigan’s election system. These bills remove a financial incentive to generate fraudulent signatures on petitions, will bolster trust in our electoral process and crack down on unethical activity, ensuring a stronger, more transparent system for us all,” said Secretary Benson.