Sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on premises; resolution; petition; notice; submission of question to electors; ballot; canvass; effect of tie vote; use of section to nullify referendum vote prohibited.
MCL 436.2101
in effect436.2101. Sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on premises; resolution; petition; notice; submission of question to electors; ballot; canvass; effect of tie vote; use of section to nullify referendum vote prohibited.
Sec. 1101.
(1) Spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on the premises, in addition to beer and wine, may be sold by restaurants, hotels, and establishments approved by the commission under this act in the following cities, villages, or townships if the legislative body of the city, village, or township by resolution of a majority vote of the members elect, votes in favor of allowing that sale. A petition may be filed with the city, village, or township clerk requesting the submission of the question of sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on the premises, in addition to beer and wine. In the case of a city or township, the petition shall be signed by a number of the registered and qualified electors which shall be not less than 35% of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of secretary of state in that city or township at the last general election held for that purpose. In the case of a village, the petition shall be signed by a number of the registered and qualified electors that is not less than 35% of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of president of the village at the last village election held for that purpose. The question shall not be submitted to the electors of a city, village, or township more often than once in every 2 years. The city, village, or township clerk shall, within 10 days after the petition is filed with the clerk, give notice of the filing by publication of notice setting forth the essential facts of the petition in a newspaper published or in general circulation in the city, village, or township. The city, village, or township clerk shall submit the question at the next regular state election held in the city, village, or township if the petitions are filed at least 60 days before the election. Class C licensees in a newly incorporated city or village shall continue to be licensed by the commission until the question of the sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on the premises, in addition to beer and wine, is submitted to the electors of the city or village as provided in this section. The question of the sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink for consumption on the premises, in addition to beer and wine, shall be submitted by ballot in substantially the following form:
"Shall the sale of spirits and mixed spirit drink in addition to beer and wine be permitted for consumption on the premises within the city, village, or township of ............. under the provisions of the law governing same?
Yes ...........
No ...........".
(2) All votes on the question submitted by ballot under subsection (1) shall be taken, counted, and canvassed in the same manner as votes cast in city, village, or township elections, as applicable, are taken, counted, and canvassed. Ballots shall be furnished by the election commission or similar body of the respective city, village, or township. If a majority of the electors voting at an election conducted under this section shall vote in favor of the question submitted by ballot under subsection (1), spirits and mixed spirit drink may be sold under this act in that city, village, or township for consumption on the premises, in addition to beer and wine.
(3) At any time within 18 months after an election conducted under this section has resulted in a tie vote, the question shall be resubmitted to the electors upon the filing of a petition with the legislative body of the city, village, or township. The petition shall be signed by a number of electors not less than that required under subsection (1) for the calling of an election on an original petition. The question shall be resubmitted to the electors by the city, village, or township clerk at the next regular election if that election occurs not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days after the filing of the petition or at a special election called for that purpose and to be held within not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days after the filing of the petition.
(4) This section shall not be used by the legislative body of a city, village, or township to nullify the results of a referendum vote of the electors of the city, village, or township.
1998, Act 58, Imd. Eff. Apr. 14, 1998
Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-436-2101Fetched: 10/20/2026