What Will Make the Michigan Ballot This November

LANSING — At least one ballot initiative has secured enough signatures to potentially appear on Michigan's November ballot. Americans for Citizen Voting filed more than 750,000 petition signatures with the state, well above the 446,198 required to qualify for the constitutional amendment.

But the race is far from over. Several other groups are still collecting signatures while others have already dropped out. The question is what proposals will ultimately make it to voters on Nov. 3.

Citizens Only Voting Campaign

The Americans for Citizen Voting proposal would amend the state constitution to require the Secretary of State to verify the citizenship of all registered voters. The measure would also mandate removal of noncitizens from the registered voter file if found after a 45-day response window.

Under the proposal, voters would need to provide proof of citizenship through documents like a passport or birth certificate. The measure would also eliminate the option for voters without photo ID to submit an affidavit of identity instead.

"When noncitizens vote and are allowed to vote, it divides us, it cheapens citizenship and creates distrust in our elections," said Paul Jacob, chairman of Americans for Citizen Voting, during a press conference in Lansing.

The group reported raising $6.46 million cumulatively through the end of 2025. About $6 million came from Restoration of America, a Florida-based conservative advocacy nonprofit, and approximately $420,000 came from the Liberty Initiative Fund, a Virginia-based nonprofit.

The proposal would also establish a state-funded hardship program for low-income Michiganders unable to afford photo ID. Violations would be subject to a $1,000 fine or up to five years in prison.

Other Proposals Still Fighting

Several other initiatives are still collecting signatures to make the November ballot.

Michiganders for Money Out of Politics has gathered around 250,000 signatures to date, needing just over 356,000 to qualify. The proposal would ban political donations by regulated utilities like DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, as well as companies with at least $250,000 a year in government contracts.

The group is aiming for at least 550,000 signatures to provide a cushion. Organizer Sean McBrearty said they are right on track with their goal. The proposal would apply to those who run for or hold offices that impact utilities and contractors.

AxMITax is attempting to eliminate all property taxes in Michigan. Executive Director Karla Wagner, who is also running for governor as an independent, said the group is done collecting signatures but would not confirm how many they have secured. The goal is 600,000 signatures.

Multiple delays have left some onlookers skeptical. Michigan Republican Party Grassroots Vice Chair Chris Long called it a "failed" effort, citing lack of meaningful funding and no serious donor pipeline.

Dropouts

At least three petition groups have called it quits on their 2026 ballot efforts.

Rank MI Vote, which sought to implement ranked choice voting, was the first to bow out in December 2025. The group reportedly had fewer than 200,000 signatures by late 2025 and faced significant headwinds.

Invest in MI Kids also suspended signature gathering on March 12. The proposal would have imposed a 5% income tax surcharge for individuals making more than $500,000 a year and couples making more than $1 million. Both Invest in MI Kids and Rank MI Vote plan to try again for the 2027 ballot.

Voters to Stop Paycuts, which would have required 223,099 signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot, also suspended efforts. The proposal aimed to undo a 2025 law that scaled back court-ordered increases to Michigan's minimum wage and subminimum wage for tipped workers.

Signature Thresholds

The state has different signature requirements depending on the type of measure:

  • 446,198 signatures for constitutional amendments
  • 356,958 signatures for initiated legislation
  • 223,099 signatures for forcing a referendum on an existing law

Signatures must be collected within a 180-day window. The deadline for initiating legislation is May 27, while constitutional amendments must be filed by July 6.

Legal and Political Battles

Voters Not Politicians, a voting advocacy group that successfully overhauled Michigan's redistricting process in 2018, is one of the chief opponents of the Americans for Citizen Voting effort.

"The extra bureaucracy, the extra paperwork and red tape that will come into play if this passes really goes against the heart of the constitution and the changes voters have supported over the past several years," said Melinda Billingsley, communications director for Voters Not Politicians.

Billingsley promised paid and grassroots opposition to the ballot campaign in the coming months.

State Rep. Ann Bollin, a Brighton Township Republican and former clerk, rejected the arguments against the proposal as fear-mongering.

"These are not high thresholds to meet," Bollin said. "The concern should not be, How do we do this? It should be, What happens if we dont?"

What Comes Next

The Michigan Bureau of Elections will review each signature before recommending to canvassers whether to certify the petitions. Turning in signatures does not guarantee ballot access.

State Rep. Samantha May, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Bureau of Elections, said the bureau was unlikely to begin reviews of signatures for ballot initiatives until after completing reviews of various candidate filings. The deadline for certification of those candidate filings is not until May.

"Once those are complete, the bureau will review the initiatives and constitutional amendments," May said.

If the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal makes the ballot and is approved by voters, it would become Proposal 2, appearing behind the mandatory question about whether to hold a constitutional convention that appears every 16 years.

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  • Michiganders for Money Out of Politics still collecting signatures to ban utility political spending
  • AxMITax property tax elimination campaign struggles to reach signature goals
  • Rank MI Vote and other petition groups drop out of 2026 ballot efforts