The Michigan Board of State Canvassers faces a critical decision after the state Bureau of Elections released a report on August 17, 2026, revealing that a high-profile constitutional amendment requiring proof of citizenship and a photo ID to vote fell short of the required valid signatures. Spearheaded by Americans for Citizen Voting, the petition drive collected over 700,000 signatures, but a rigorous staff sampling process determined the valid total sat just below the threshold needed for the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.
The Signature Shortfall and the Bureau of Elections Report
Americans for Citizen Voting submitted more than 750,000 signatures in total, leading to a standard 1,000-signature sample review by Bureau of Elections staff. Under the sampling procedure developed by the Board of State Canvassers, at least 629 of those 1,000 signatures needed to pass muster.
After factoring in outside challenges, bureau staff determined that only 612 signatures in the sample were valid—leaving the campaign 17 signatures short of the threshold. The report cited multiple reasons for invalidating individual signatures, including missing signatures, incorrect cities or townships, invalid dates, missing circulator information, and illegibility.
High-Stakes Political Financials and Campaign Divisions
Americans for Citizen Voting reported spending $9.1 million on its campaign as of July 20 through campaign finance disclosures. A substantial portion of that funding originated from Restoration of America, a dark money group created by Illinois activist Doug Truax that aims to encourage American prosperity by “turning to God and the enforcement of just laws.”
On the opposing side, Promote the Vote Action spearheaded the legal challenge against the petition signatures. Michael Davis Jr. of Promote the Vote Action stated, “We are thrilled, although not surprised, to hear that the Bureau found this anti-voter campaign did not submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.” The group argued that the proposed changes would introduce confusion and potential disenfranchisement into an electoral system they maintain is already secure and accessible.
Legal Hurdles Over Constitutional Abrogation
Beyond the signature count, Promote the Vote Action raised a deeper legal challenge regarding the sufficiency of the constitutional language included in the petition. The challengers argued that Americans for Citizen Voting was required to list all areas of the Michigan Constitution amended or abrogated by the proposal, rather than just listing directly amended sections.
While the Bureau of Elections did not issue a definitive recommendation on the merits of this abrogation argument, the state report noted that it raises legal questions concerning the meaning of the Michigan Constitution and the impact of the proposed amendments. This unresolved legal question adds another layer of complexity for the bipartisan, four-member Board of State Canvassers as they review the bureau’s findings.
Campaign Pushback and Next Steps
Organizers behind the ballot initiative refuse to concede defeat. Paul Jacob, chairman for Americans for Citizen Voting, insisted the group gathered more than enough valid signatures among the 750,000 submitted. He pointed out that an initial review of the state report revealed multiple instances where bureau staff insisted certain writing was illegible that “sure looks legible to me.”
“We need to make up 17 signatures out of the 1,000-signature random sample and we’re going to do it,” Jacob said. Similarly, Kristin Combs, a spokesperson for Americans for Citizen Voting-Michigan, affirmed, “The fight continues. We are reviewing the information provided by the Bureau and plan to respond to them as soon as possible. More than 700,000 Michiganders signed our petition. They deserve a vote.”
