Voting rights advocates say election reforms proposed by Republican lawmakers in Michigan would make it harder for many Michiganders to vote. One described using a petition drive to enact some of the reforms as an "anti-voter power grab."
The Detroit News reported state Republicans have openly discussed using a potential petition drive to enact some of the measures introduced in a 39-bill package unveiled by Michigan Senate Republicans in March. While Republicans have the votes to pass the package through the Michigan Legislature, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, would likely veto many of the proposed initiatives.
If Republicans were able to gather the roughly 340,000 needed signatures to pass a petition drive, Whitmer would not be able to issue a veto. Michigan GOP Chairman Ron Weiser was recorded during a North Oakland Republican Club meeting saying a ballot drive would be used to enact the changes before midterm elections in 2022.