How do I Open a Petition in Michigan?
- 1). Contact the Michigan Department of State at 888-767-6424. The Bureau of Elections offers consultations with voters to design ballot initiatives with appropriate language. Following their guidelines on formatting can increase the chances that a petition will be successful.
- 2). Distribute copies of your petition to gain signatures from registered Michigan voters. The law requires the number of valid signatures gathered for an initiative to equal at least eight percent of the number of voters in the most recent gubernatorial election (304,101 signatures as of September 2010).
- 3). Collect the required number of signatures within a 180 day period. Signatures gathered more than 180 days before the petition is filed will be rejected.
- 4). Submit the petition the the Secretary of State, at the Michigan Department of State, Lansing, MI 48918. Once filed, the Board of State Canvassers will begin the process of verifying signatures.
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