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Michigan courts keep citizenship voting measure off November ballot

Michigan courts keep citizenship voting measure off November ballot

Rule Changes Holt, MI local

Signature sample fell three short of the required minimum; supporters vow a 2028 retry

September 4th, 2026: Michigan Supreme Court declines to force citizenship voting proposal onto the ballot

Overview

Updated 5 days ago

Michigan voters will not see a proof-of-citizenship voting requirement on the November ballot. The Michigan Supreme Court on Thursday declined to force certification, hours after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected the same emergency request without explanation.

The decision ends a challenge where a random check of 1,000 signatures found 626 valid — three short of the 629 needed to qualify. Supporters gathered more than 700,000 signatures and spent over $3 million on the drive, but the deadlocked Board of State Canvassers kept the measure off the ballot. ACV leaders say they will try again in 2028.

Why it matters

Michigan's registration rules stay unchanged for 2026, but the 700,000-signature drive shows the citizenship voting push has momentum for 2028.

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Key Indicators

626
Valid signatures in random 1,000-signature sample
Three short of the 629 required to qualify for the ballot.
700,000+
Signatures submitted by Americans for Citizen Voting
Estimated total collected; far above the 446,198 valid signatures required.
446,198
Valid signatures required for a constitutional amendment
State threshold certified by the Bureau of Elections.
$3M+
Spent on petition management
Includes paid signature gathering, per Michigan campaign finance records.

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People Involved

Paul Jacobs
Paul Jacobs
Chairman, Americans for Citizen Voting
Vowing a 2028 retry after the court defeat
 Matt Hall
Matt Hall
Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives
In office; backed citizenship voting measures
 Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Kavanaugh
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Declined the emergency appeal without explanation

Organizations Involved

Americans for Citizen Voting
Americans for Citizen Voting
Ballot committee
Led the signature drive; now weighing a 2028 retry

Group that gathered more than 700,000 signatures for a proof-of-citizenship constitutional amendment in Michigan.
Board of State Canvassers
Board of State Canvassers
State board
Deadlocked 2-2 on certification

Bipartisan four-member state board responsible for certifying statewide ballot proposals and constitutional amendments.
Michigan Bureau of Elections
Michigan Bureau of Elections
State agency
Verified signatures; found the measure short

State agency that reviews ballot proposal signatures and administers Michigan elections.
Promote the Vote Action
Promote the Vote Action
Voting rights organization
Opposed the measure; welcomed court decisions

Voting access group that challenged the petition and celebrated the defeat of the citizenship voting measure.

Timeline

November 2024 September 2026

9 events Latest: September 4th, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Michigan Supreme Court declines to force citizenship voting proposal onto the ballot

    Latest Resolution

    WLNS 6 News reports the final court bar to placing the measure on the November ballot.

  2. Both courts reject emergency requests

    Legal Decision

    Kavanaugh declines the appeal without explanation; hours later, the Michigan Supreme Court rules the canvassers' deadlock was within their discretion.

  3. ACV files emergency appeal with U.S. Supreme Court

    Legal

    ACV asks the high court to order the measure onto the November ballot, arguing lack of due process.

  4. Board of State Canvassers deadlocks 2-2

    Decision

    A random sample finds 626 valid signatures, three short of the 629 needed. The board splits along party lines and fails to certify.

  5. ACV files estimated 750,000 signatures

    Filing

    ACV submits more than 700,000 signatures; 446,198 valid signatures are required to qualify for the ballot.

  6. ACV begins signature collection

    Campaign

    Americans for Citizen Voting launches a statewide signature drive for a ballot measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

  7. Michigan House rejects proof-of-citizenship amendment

    Legislative Failure

    State Rep. Bryan Posthumus's constitutional amendment requiring citizenship verification fails along party lines.

  8. Republicans take Michigan House

    Political Shift

    Republicans regain control of the Michigan House; proof-of-citizenship voting becomes a legislative priority.

  9. University of Michigan student allegedly votes without citizenship

    Allegation

    A U of M student is accused of registering and voting without being a U.S. citizen, becoming a catalyst for proof-of-citizenship efforts.

Scenarios

1

ACV retries for the 2028 Michigan ballot

Likely Resolves by Sep 15, 2028

Discussed by: ACV Chairman Paul Jacob; state political analysts

ACV leaders say they will collect signatures again for the 2028 cycle. With a full campaign season and the state Supreme Court suggesting the legislature clarify verification rules, supporters could qualify the measure. A GOP-controlled legislature might also resolve the pending legal questions in their favor.

2

Michigan legislature passes signature verification reform

Possible Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Michigan Supreme Court (in its ruling); Republican legislative leaders

The state Supreme Court explicitly suggested the legislature set clearer rules for signature verification and judicial-review deadlines. With GOP control of the House, a bill could pass in the 2026-2027 session, changing procedures for future ballot drives and potentially making it easier or harder for measures to qualify.

3

Federal SAVE Act passes, overriding state-level fight

Uncertain Resolves by Jan 3, 2027

Discussed by: Republican congressional leadership; election policy analysts

The SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, has languished in the U.S. Senate. If it passes, the Michigan state-level fight becomes less consequential for federal elections, though state elections would still be governed by state law. Passage would validate the movement's national strategy.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 2004

Arizona Proposition 200 (2004)

Arizona voters passed Proposition 200, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. The measure was enforced for state elections but frozen for federal elections after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (2013) that states could not add requirements beyond the federal voter registration form.

Then

The law took effect for state elections but was blocked for federal elections pending litigation.

Now

The 2013 ruling established that states cannot impose additional requirements on the federal voter registration form, a precedent that constrains citizenship verification efforts.

Why this matters now

The Michigan measure faces the same tension: states can require citizenship to vote in state elections, but federal law limits how they verify it for federal elections.

2011-2018

Kansas proof-of-citizenship law (2011-2018)

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach pushed through a law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Courts struck it down for federal elections in 2018, and thousands of legitimate Kansas voters had been put on 'suspense' status and denied ballots in state elections.

Then

Thousands of Kansas voters could not vote in state elections while the requirement was in force.

Now

The law was struck down for federal elections; Kobach lost the 2018 governor's race, and the state rolled back the requirement.

Why this matters now

Demonstrates the practical cost of proof-of-citizenship requirements: legitimate voters without documentary proof can be disenfranchised, a pattern opponents cite in the Michigan fight.

2017-2018

Michigan's Promote the Vote initiative (2018)

A citizen initiative in Michigan gathered enough signatures to qualify as Proposal 3 and passed with 67% of the vote, creating automatic voter registration, straight-ticket voting, and expanded absentee voting. The Board of State Canvassers certified it without the controversy now surrounding ACV.

Then

Proposal 3 passed, expanding access to voting in Michigan.

Now

Became a target for Republican-led voting restrictions and established that the citizen initiative process can work when measures clear the signature threshold.

Why this matters now

Shows the signature-verification system is the gateway to ballot access; the ACV measure's failure turns entirely on that gateway.

Sources

(5)
WLNS 6 News BridgeDetroit / Votebeat Quartz Mid-Michigan Now Law360