The Michigan House Elections Committee has passed legislation to change how much time petition organizers have to gather voter signatures.
Current law allows up to four years to collect and validate petition signatures. SB 776 will limit that window to 180 days.
Ann Arbor Representative Gretchen Driskell serves on the House Elections Committee. She calls the bill an "unreasonable blocking" of citizen democratic rights.
She says,
“This is another example of limiting citizen’s access to government. Citizens...have an ability, they have a right under law to introduce legislation they’re concerned about.”
“This is a very important vehicle for people in the state of Michigan," Driskell says.
The bill has been passed by the Michigan Senate. Driskell expects the House to vote on SB 776 before summer break.
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— Amanda LeClaire is a reporter and producer for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact her at 734.487.3363 or email her aleclair@emich.edu
