INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

MCL ch. 168, subtit. Act 116 of 1954, ch. XXII

in effect

MCL 168.471 Petitions proposing constitutional amendments; filing; signature requirements.

168.471. Petitions proposing constitutional amendments; filing; signature requirements. Sec. 471. Petitions under section 2 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 proposing an amendment to the constitution must be filed with the secretary of state at least 120 days before the election at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon. Initiative petitions under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963 must be filed with the secretary of state at least 160 days before the election at which the proposed law would appear on the ballot if the legislature rejects or fails to enact the proposed law. Referendum petitions under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963 must be filed with the secretary of state not more than 90 days following the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the law that is the subject of the referendum was enacted. Not more than 15% of the signatures to be used to determine the validity of a petition described in this section shall be of registered electors from any 1 congressional district. Any signature submitted on a petition above the limit described in this section must not be counted. When filing a petition described in this section with the secretary of state, a person must sort the petition so that the petition signatures are categorized by congressional district. In addition, when filing a petition described in this section with the secretary of state, the person who files the petition must state in writing a good-faith estimate of the number of petition signatures from each congressional district. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 9, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 1963; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [Constitutionality] The geographic distribution requirement that not more than 15% of the signatures come from any 1 congressional district, as added by Act 608 of 2018, violates the state constitution of 1963. League of Women Voters of Mich v Sec’y of State, 508 Mich 520 (2022). [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.472 Initiative petitions; filing.

168.472. Initiative petitions; filing. Sec. 472. Petitions to initiate legislation shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than 10 days before the beginning of a session of the legislature. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [Constitutionality] The requirements of this section constitute an unnecessary and unreasonable restraint on the constitutional right to initiate legislation, as provided for by Const 1963, art 2, § 9. Wolverine Golf Club v Secretary of State, 384 Mich 461; 185 NW2d 392 (1971). [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.472a Petition; signatures to be counted.

168.472a. Petition; signatures to be counted. Sec. 472a. The signature on a petition that proposes an amendment to the constitution or is to initiate legislation shall not be counted if the signature was made more than 180 days before the petition is filed with the office of the secretary of state. Add. 1973, Act 24, Imd. Eff. June 12, 1973; Am. 1973, Act 112, Imd. Eff. Aug. 19, 1973; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2016, Act 142, Imd. Eff. June 7, 2016 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.473 Referendum petitions; filing.

168.473. Referendum petitions; filing. Sec. 473. Referendum petitions shall be presented to and filed with the secretary of state within 90 days after the final adjournment of the legislature. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.473b Filing petition after November election.

168.473b. Filing petition after November election. Sec. 473b. Signatures on a petition to propose an amendment to the state constitution of 1963 or a petition to initiate legislation collected prior to a November general election at which a governor is elected shall not be filed after the date of that November general election. Add. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.474 Repealed. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Aug. 16, 2012.

MCL 168.474a Assignment of number designation to appear on ballot for question submitted on statewide basis.

168.474a. Assignment of number designation to appear on ballot for question submitted on statewide basis. Sec. 474a. (1) The board of state canvassers shall assign a number designation to appear on the ballot for each question to be submitted on a statewide basis. The designation must be assigned not less than 60 days before the election. (2) The number designation under subsection (1) must consist of 5 or 6 digits. The first 4 digits must be the year of the election. The next digit or, if necessary, 2 digits must indicate the chronological order in which the question was filed to appear on the ballot. For a primary or special election, a -P or -S, as applicable, must be added to the end of the number designation. For the purposes of this subsection, a question must be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot as follows: (a) A question of a general revision of the constitution under section 3 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 must be considered to be the first question filed to appear on the ballot for those elections at which a question of a general revision of the constitution will appear on the ballot. (b) A proposed constitution or amendment adopted by a convention under section 3 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 must be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot upon the final adjournment of the convention that proposed the constitution or amendment. (c) An amendment to the constitution proposed under section 2 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963, a law initiated under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963, or a referendum invoked under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963 must be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the petition is filed with the secretary of state. (d) An amendment to the constitution proposed under section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 must be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the joint resolution proposing the amendment is filed with the secretary of state. (e) A referendum under section 34 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963 must be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the legislation is filed with the secretary of state. Add. 1978, Act 246, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1978; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.475 Final submission of petition; posting of petition; notification of board of state canvassers; supplemental filings.

168.475. Final submission of petition; posting of petition; notification of board of state canvassers; supplemental filings. Sec. 475. (1) Upon the final submission of a petition as to form under this chapter, the secretary of state shall immediately notify the board of state canvassers of the submission of the petition. In addition, upon the final submission of a petition under this chapter, the secretary of state shall within 2 business days post on the department of state's website the proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum and the date the petition was submitted to the secretary of state. (2) Upon the filing of a petition with signatures under section 471 or 473, the secretary of state shall immediately notify the board of state canvassers of that filing. After the day on which a petition and signatures are filed, the secretary of state must not accept further filings of signatures to supplement the original filing. On the first business day of every month after the date a petition and signatures were filed, the secretary of state shall post on the department of state's website an update on the status of that petition. The secretary of state may update the status of a petition on a more frequent basis than required under this subsection. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1978, Act 338, Imd. Eff. July 11, 1978; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2022, Act 40, Imd. Eff. Mar. 23, 2022; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.476 Petitions; canvass by board of state canvassers; use of qualified voter file; hearing upon complaint; investigations; completion date; disposition of challenges; report.

168.476. Petitions; 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 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. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2005, Act 71, Eff. Jan. 1, 2007 [Compiler] Enacting section 4 of Act 71 of 2005 provides: [Compiler] "Enacting section 4. If any portion of this amendatory act or the application of this amendatory act to any person or circumstances is found invalid by a court, the invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions or applications of this amendatory act that can be given effect without the invalid portion or application, if the remaining portions are not determined by the court to be inoperable, and to this end this amendatory act is declared to be severable." [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.477 Petition and initiative petition; official declaration of sufficiency or insufficiency by board of state canvassers; publication of statement of purpose; expense; effectiveness of law that is subject of referendum.

168.477. Petition and initiative petition; official declaration of sufficiency or insufficiency by board of state canvassers; publication of statement of purpose; expense; effectiveness of law that is subject of referendum. Sec. 477. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the board of state canvassers shall make an official declaration of the sufficiency or insufficiency of a petition under this chapter at least 2 months before the election at which the proposal is to be submitted. The board of state canvassers shall make an official declaration of the sufficiency or insufficiency of an initiative petition no later than 100 days before the election at which the proposal is to be submitted. The board of state canvassers may not count toward the sufficiency of a petition described in this section any valid signature of a registered elector from a congressional district submitted on that petition that is above the 15% limit described in section 471. If the board of state canvassers declares that the petition is sufficient, the secretary of state shall send copies of the statement of purpose of the proposal as approved by the board of state canvassers to the several daily and weekly newspapers published in this state, with the request that the newspapers give as wide publicity as possible to the proposed amendment or other question. Publication of any matter by any newspaper under this section must be without expense or cost to this state. (2) For the purposes of the second paragraph of section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963, a law that is the subject of the referendum continues to be effective until the referendum is properly invoked, which occurs when the board of state canvassers makes its official declaration of the sufficiency of the referendum petition. The board of state canvassers shall complete the canvass of a referendum petition within 60 days after the petition is filed with the secretary of state, except that 1 15-day extension may be granted by the secretary of state if necessary to complete the canvass. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000; Am. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Aug. 16, 2012; Am. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [Constitutionality] The geographic distribution requirement that not more than 15% of the signatures come from any 1 congressional district, as added by Act 608 of 2018, violates the state constitution of 1963. League of Women Voters of Mich v Sec’y of State, 508 Mich 520 (2022). [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.478 Petitions; notice of approval or rejection by board of state canvassers to persons filing.

168.478. Petitions; notice of approval or rejection by board of state canvassers to persons filing. Sec. 478. At the time of filing a petition proposing a constitutional amendment, an initiated law, or a referendum, the person or persons filing the petition may request a notice of the approval or rejection of the petition to be forwarded to the person or persons or any other persons designated at the time of the filing of the petition. If a request is made under this section, the secretary of state shall, immediately upon the determination of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition, transmit to the person or persons notice of the determination of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1956, Act 190, Imd. Eff. Apr. 26, 1956; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.479 Review of determination; mandamus, certiorari or other remedy; legal challenge to supreme court.

168.479. Review of determination; mandamus, certiorari or other remedy; legal challenge to supreme court. Sec. 479. (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and subject to subsection (2), any person who feels aggrieved by any determination made by the board of state canvassers may have the determination reviewed by mandamus or other appropriate remedy in the supreme court. (2) If a person feels aggrieved by any determination made by the board of state canvassers regarding the sufficiency or insufficiency of an initiative petition, the person must file a legal challenge to the board's determination in the supreme court within 7 business days after the date of the official declaration of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the initiative petition or not later than 60 days before the election at which the proposal is to be submitted, whichever occurs first. Any legal challenge to the official declaration of the sufficiency or insufficiency of an initiative petition has the highest priority and shall be advanced on the supreme court docket so as to provide for the earliest possible disposition. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.480 Proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum; certification; copies to voting precincts; posting.

168.480. Proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum; certification; copies to voting precincts; posting. Sec. 480. If a proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum is to be submitted to the electors of this state for popular vote, the secretary of state shall, not less than 60 days before the date of the election at which the proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum is to be submitted, certify the statement, as approved by the board of state canvassers under section 32, for designation on the ballot to the clerk of each county in this state, together with the form in which the proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum must be printed on the ballot. As soon as possible after the certification by the board of state canvassers, the secretary of state shall furnish to the county, city, and township clerks in this state 1 copy of the text of each constitutional amendment or other special question and 1 copy of each statement for each voting precinct in the respective jurisdictions. Each township or city clerk shall, before the opening of the polls on election day, deliver a copy of the text and statement to which each voting precinct in the clerk's township or city is entitled to the board of election inspectors of the precinct, and the board of election inspectors shall post the copy of the text and statement in conspicuous places in the room where the election is held. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Aug. 16, 2012; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.481 Proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum; form.

168.481. Proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum; form. Sec. 481. If a proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum is to be submitted to the electors, the board of election commissioners of each county shall cause the proposed constitutional amendment, initiated law, or referendum to be printed in accordance with the form submitted by the secretary of state. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482 Petitions; size; form; contents.

168.482. Petitions; size; form; contents. Sec. 482. (1) Each petition under this section must be 8-1/2 inches by 14 inches in size. (2) If the measure to be submitted proposes a constitutional amendment, initiation of legislation, or referendum of legislation, the heading of each part of the petition must be prepared in the following form and printed in capital letters in 14-point boldfaced type: INITIATIVE PETITION AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OR INITIATION OF LEGISLATION OR REFERENDUM OF LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION (3) A summary in not more than 100 words of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed must follow and be printed in 12-point type. The full text of the amendment so proposed must follow the summary and be printed in 8-point type. If the proposal would alter or abrogate an existing provision of the constitution, the petition must so state and the provisions to be altered or abrogated must be inserted, preceded by the words: "Provisions of existing constitution altered or abrogated by the proposal if adopted." (4) The following statement must appear beneath the petition heading: "We, the undersigned qualified and registered electors, residents in the _________________________ congressional district in the state of Michigan, respectively petition for (amendment to constitution) (initiation of legislation) (referendum of legislation) (other appropriate description).". (5) The following warning must be printed in 12-point type immediately above the place for signatures, on each part of the petition: WARNING A person who knowingly signs this petition more than once, signs a name other than his or her own, signs when not a qualified and registered elector, or sets opposite his or her signature on a petition, a date other than the actual date the signature was affixed, is violating the provisions of the Michigan election law. (6) Subject to subsections (7) and (8), the remainder of the petition form must be as provided following the warning to electors signing the petition in section 544c(1). In addition, the petition must comply with the requirements of section 544c(2). (7) Each petition under this section must provide at the top of the page check boxes and statements printed in 12-point type to clearly indicate whether the circulator of the petition is a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer signature gatherer. (8) Each petition under this section must clearly indicate below the statement required under subsection (7) and be printed in 12-point type that if the petition circulator does not comply with all of the requirements of this act for petition circulators, any signature obtained by that petition circulator on that petition is invalid and will not be counted. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955; Am. 1965, Act 312, Eff. Jan. 1, 1966; Am. 1993, Act 137, Eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Am. 1998, Act 142, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999; Am. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482a Paid signature gatherer; affidavit; invalidity of signatures.

168.482a. Paid signature gatherer; affidavit; invalidity of signatures. Sec. 482a. (1) If an individual who circulates a petition under section 482 is a paid signature gatherer, then that individual must, before circulating any petition, file a signed affidavit with the secretary of state that indicates he or she is a paid signature gatherer. (2) Any signature obtained on a petition under section 482 by an individual who has not filed the required affidavit under subsection (1) is invalid and must not be counted. (3) If the circulator of a petition under section 482 provides or uses a false address or provides any fraudulent information on the certificate of circulator, any signature obtained by that circulator on that petition is invalid and must not be counted. (4) If a petition under section 482 is circulated and the petition does not meet all of the requirements under section 482, any signature obtained on that petition is invalid and must not be counted. (5) Any signature obtained on a petition under section 482 that was not signed in the circulator's presence is invalid and must not be counted. Add. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [Constitutionality] The precirculation affidavit requirement for paid signature gatherers in subsections (1) and (2) added by Act 608 of 2018 is unconstitutional. League of Women Voters of Mich v Sec’y of State, 508 Mich 520 (2022). [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482b Summary of purpose of the proposed amendment or question; requirements; approval by the board of state canvassers; form.

168.482b. Summary of purpose of the proposed amendment or question; requirements; approval by the board of state canvassers; form. Sec. 482b. (1) A person who circulates a petition under section 482 may, before circulating any petition, submit the summary of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed that is required under section 482(3) to the board of state canvassers for approval as to the content of the summary. The board of state canvassers must issue an approval or rejection of the content of the summary not more than 30 days after the summary is submitted. The board of state canvassers may not consider a challenge to the sufficiency of a submitted petition on the basis of the summary being misleading or deceptive if that summary was approved before circulation of the petition. (2) If a person submits the summary of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed as provided in subsection (1), all of the following apply: (a) The summary of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed must be prepared by the director of elections, with the approval of the board of state canvassers. (b) The summary is limited to not more than 100 words and must consist of a true and impartial statement of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed in language that does not create prejudice for or against the proposed amendment or question proposed. (c) The summary must be worded so as to apprise the petition signers of the subject matter of the proposed amendment or question proposed, but does not need to be legally precise. (d) The summary must be clearly written using words that have a common everyday meaning to the general public. (3) If the board of state canvassers approves the summary of the purpose of the proposed amendment or question proposed, the person who circulates the petition under section 482 shall print the full text of the approved summary in 12-point type in the place required by section 482(3). Add. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482c Knowingly made a false statement regarding status as a paid or volunteer signature gatherer; misdemeanor.

168.482c. Knowingly made a false statement regarding status as a paid or volunteer signature gatherer; misdemeanor. Sec. 482c. The circulator of a petition under section 482 who knowingly makes a false statement concerning his or her status as a paid signature gatherer or volunteer signature gatherer is guilty of a misdemeanor. Add. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482d "Paid signature gatherer" defined.

168.482d. "Paid signature gatherer" defined. Sec. 482d. As used in this chapter, "paid signature gatherer" means an individual who is compensated, directly or indirectly, through payments of money or other valuable consideration to obtain signatures on a petition as described in section 471. Add. 2018, Act 608, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.482e Prohibited conduct; misdemeanor; felony; penalties.

168.482e. Prohibited conduct; misdemeanor; felony; penalties. Sec. 482e. (1) An individual shall not do any of the following regarding a petition under section 482: (a) Sign a petition with a name other than his or her own. (b) Make a false statement in a certificate on a petition. (c) If not a circulator, sign a petition as a circulator. (d) Sign a name as circulator other than his or her own. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 93 days, or both. (3) An individual shall not sign a petition under section 482 with multiple names. An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony. (4) If an individual signs a petition in violation of this section, any signature by that individual on the petition is invalid and must not be counted. Add. 2018, Act 650, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.483 Repealed. 1965, Act 312, Eff. Jan. 1, 1966.

MCL 168.483a Amendment to constitution or initiation of legislation; filing and circulation of petition; submission of petition language to public on internet; effective date.

168.483a. Amendment to constitution or initiation of legislation; filing and circulation of petition; submission of petition language to public on internet; effective date. Sec. 483a. (1) The petition sponsor of a petition proposing an amendment to the constitution or to initiate legislation shall file the petition or an amended petition with the secretary of state. (2) The petition sponsor of a petition proposing an amendment to the constitution or to initiate legislation shall not circulate a petition or an amended petition for signatures until the petition or amended petition is filed with the secretary of state as required in subsection (1). (3) The secretary of state shall make the most recent submission of the petition language filed under subsection (1) available to the public on an internet website maintained by the department of state. (4) This section takes effect January 1, 2013. Add. 2012, Act 276, Eff. Jan. 1, 2013 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.485 Questions submitted to electors; form.

168.485. Questions submitted to electors; form. Sec. 485. A question submitted to the electors of this state or the electors of a subdivision of this state must be worded so that a "yes" vote will be a vote in favor of the subject matter of the proposal or issue and a "no" vote will be a vote against the subject matter of the proposal or issue. The question must be worded so as to apprise the voters of the subject matter of the proposal or issue, but need not be legally precise. The question must be clearly written using words that have a common everyday meaning to the general public. The language used must not create prejudice for or against the issue or proposal. Add. 1969, Act 152, Eff. Mar. 20, 1970; Am. 1994, Act 152, Eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Am. 2024, Act 234, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.486 Certifying and transmitting language of constitutional amendment or legislation initiated by petition.

168.486. Certifying and transmitting language of constitutional amendment or legislation initiated by petition. Sec. 486. If the qualified electors of this state approve a constitutional amendment or legislation initiated by petition, the board of state canvassers shall certify to the secretary of state the language of the amendment or legislation. The secretary of state shall transmit the language of the amendment or legislation to the director of the department of management and budget. Add. 1978, Act 482, Imd. Eff. Nov. 30, 1978 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.487 Reimbursement to county, city, and township for cost of conducting special election.

168.487. Reimbursement to county, city, and township for cost of conducting special election. Sec. 487. (1) If a statewide special election is called to submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the electors of this state, this state shall reimburse each county, city, and township for the cost of conducting the special election as provided in this section. The reimbursement shall not exceed the verified account of actual costs of the special election. This state shall reimburse each county, city, and township under this section notwithstanding that the county, city, or township also holds a local special election in conjunction with the statewide special election. (2) Payment shall be made upon presentation and approval of a verified account of actual costs to the department of treasury, local government audit division, after the department of treasury and the secretary of state agree as to what constitutes valid costs of conducting an election. Reimbursable costs do not include salaries of permanent local officials, the cost of reusable supplies and equipment, or costs attributable to local special elections held in conjunction with the statewide special election. (3) The legislature shall appropriate from the general fund of this state an amount necessary to implement this section. (4) To qualify for reimbursement, a county, city, or township shall submit its verified account of actual costs before the expiration of 90 days after the date of the statewide special election. This state shall pay or disapprove all or a portion of the verified account before the expiration of 90 days after this state receives a verified account of actual costs under this subsection. (5) If this state disapproves all or a portion of a verified account of actual costs under subsection (4), this state shall send a notice of disapproval along with the reasons for the disapproval to the county, city, or township. Upon request of a county, city, or township whose verified account or portion of a verified account was disapproved under this section, this state shall review the disapproved costs with the county, city, or township. Add. 1994, Act 181, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1994 [PopularName] Election Code

MCL 168.488 Applicability of MCL 168.544c and 168.482(1), (4), (5), and (6).

168.488. Applicability of MCL 168.544c and 168.482(1), (4), (5), and (6). Sec. 488. (1) Section 544c applies to a nominating petition for an office in a political subdivision under a statute that refers to this section, and to the circulation and signing of the petition. (2) Section 482(1), (4), (5), and (6) apply to a petition to place a question on the ballot before the electorate of a political subdivision under a statute that refers to this section, and to the circulation and signing of the petition. (3) A person who violates a provision of this act applicable to a petition pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) is subject to the penalties prescribed for that violation in this act. Add. 1998, Act 142, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999 [PopularName] Election Code

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20168.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026