§ 168.476Petitions; canvass by board of state canvassers; use of qualified voter file;

hearing upon complaint; investigations; completion date; disposition of challenges;
 report.
 Sec. 476.
    (1) Upon receiving notification of the filing of the petitions, the board of state canvassers
 shall canvass the petitions to ascertain if the petitions have been signed by the requisite
 number of qualified and registered electors. The qualified voter file shall be used to determine
 the validity of petition signatures by verifying the registration of signers and the genuineness



                                                                     Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Thursday, April 30, 2026              Page 152 of 478                               Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

 of signatures on petitions when the qualified voter file contains digitized signatures. If the
 qualified voter file indicates that, on the date the elector signed the petition, the elector was not
 registered to vote, there is a rebuttable presumption that the signature is invalid. If the
 qualified voter file indicates that, on the date the elector signed the petition, the elector was not
 registered to vote in the city or township designated on the petition, there is a rebuttable
 presumption that the signature is invalid. If the board is unable to verify the genuineness of a
 signature on a petition using the digitized signature contained in the qualified voter file, the
 board may cause any doubtful signatures to be checked against the registration records by the
 clerk of any political subdivision in which the petitions were circulated, to determine the
 authenticity of the signatures or to verify the registrations. Upon request, the clerk of any
 political subdivision shall cooperate fully with the board in determining the validity of
 doubtful signatures by rechecking the signature against registration records in an expeditious
 and proper manner.
    (2) The board of state canvassers may hold hearings upon any complaints filed or for any
 purpose considered necessary by the board to conduct investigations of the petitions. To
 conduct a hearing, the board may issue subpoenas and administer oaths. The board may also
 adjourn from time to time awaiting receipt of returns from investigations that are being made
 or for other necessary purposes, but shall complete the canvass at least 2 months before the
 election at which the proposal is to be submitted.
    (3) At least 2 business days before the board of state canvassers meets to make a final
 determination on challenges to and sufficiency of a petition, the bureau of elections shall make
 public its staff report concerning disposition of challenges filed against the petition. Beginning
 with the receipt of any document from local election officials pursuant to subsection (1), the
 board of state canvassers shall make that document available to petitioners and challengers on
 a daily basis.