signatures

Hundreds of signature gatherers have been stationed on street corners throughout Michigan this spring. Most are following the law, but widespread fraud allegations have disrupted multiple candidacies and ballot initiatives.

The state Supreme Court upheld lower courts that said the candidates failed to gather enough valid petition signatures — much of that due to what appears to be fraud by paid petition circulators.

Some GOP gubernatorial hopefuls filed court challenges on June 2. June 3 is the statutory deadline for the Michigan Secretary of State to finalize ballots for the August 2 primary.

The Michigan Court of Claims has thrown out James Craig's complaint, citing a decision in a similar lawsuit dismissed in the state Court of Appeals.

State officials blocked five GOP candidates from the ballot after signatures they submitted included alleged forgeries. The Republicans said they were unaware of problems with the signatures.

The petition campaign to expand the state’s open government laws is on hold and could be delayed until a future election cycle instead of aiming for the 2022 ballot.

The group Voters Not Politicians released a video that shows a paid petition circulator telling a signer that the petition would send the issue to a popular vote. But if the petition campaign gets enough signatures, the Republican-backed measure could bypass voters and go straight to the Republican-controlled state Legislature.

Another Michigan court has vacated controversial changes to the state's ballot drive law, declaring that a geographic limitation on collecting petitions…

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group has launched a ballot drive that would target lobbying in Michigan's Capitol by banning free food and drink for state…