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Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocks on voter ID initiative
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers failed to certify a proposed constitutional amendment that would require proof of citizenship to vote, following a 2-2 deadlock among its four members.
Republican members Richard Houskamp and Paul Cordes voted to certify the Americans for Citizen Voting initiative, while Democratic members Mary Ellen Gurewitz and Heather Cummings voted against it. Because certification requires at least three affirmative votes, the measure was left off the November ballot.
The dispute centered on a signature sample reviewed by Bureau of Elections staff. Out of a 1,000-signature sample, officials determined 626 were valid, falling three signatures short of the 629 required threshold. The campaign attempted to bridge this gap by submitting sworn affidavits from voters to verify rejected signatures, but the board remained split on whether to accept these documents, particularly those submitted after a 48-hour deadline.
Paul Jacob, chair of Americans for Citizen Voting, stated that the group intends to pursue legal action to contest the decision.
Entities
Americans for Citizen Voting · Michigan · Michigan Board of State Canvassers · Paul Jacob · Richard Houskamp
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Republican Chair Richard Houskamp and member Paul Cordes voted to certify the petition. www.lifezette.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The initiative required 629 valid signatures in the random sample to meet the certification threshold. www.lifezette.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on whether to certify the Americans for Citizen Voting initiative. www.lifezette.com · freerepublic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Democratic Vice Chair Mary Ellen Gurewitz and member Heather Cummings voted against certification. www.lifezette.com · freerepublic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Americans for Citizen Voting campaign plans to challenge the board's decision in court.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bureau of Elections staff determined that 626 signatures in a 1,000-signature sample were valid. www.lifezette.com · freerepublic.com