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Bureau finds most Cornel West circulator exemplars match; one circulator remains unresolved
Summary
Staff investigation into 2024 Cornel West petition circulators found exemplars for most out‑of‑state circulators matched petition signatures; one circulator’s signatures did not sufficiently agree and five exemplars remain outstanding. Board asked staff to estimate investigation costs and return with recommendations.
The Michigan Bureau of Elections reported July 10 that its canvass of circulator signatures in the Cornel West 2024 petition drive found that exemplars obtained for most circulators matched signatures in the petition sample, but one circulator’s signatures did not sufficiently agree with the exemplar and five circulator exemplars have not been obtained.
Acting Deputy Director (Deputy Director, Bureau of Elections) told the Board of State Canvassers staff examined exemplars provided by candidate counsel and compared them to sampled petition sheets. The bureau reported it obtained exemplars that allowed review for 29 circulators and concluded that signatures for 28 of those 29 circulators “did not appear to be circulator fraud” and that the signatures “matched the driver’s license signature exemplar that we were provided, or they matched the signature that was contained in the qualified voter file.” For one circulator the bureau concluded the signature on the petition did not sufficiently agree with the provided driver’s license exemplar.
The bureau said it attempted to secure additional exemplars through counsel and, when necessary, via subpoena. Staff reported five circulator exemplars remain outstanding and that its Office of Investigative Services attempted contact without success. For the sample reviewed, staff reported 18 signatures did not sufficiently agree with exemplars; staff noted that even if the problematic circulator’s signatures were disqualified, the board’s staff calculation would not have changed Cornel West’s ballot status for the November 2024 election.
Public commenters urged the board to take stronger remedial action. Mark Brewer, representing challenger Rosa Holiday, urged the board to consider penalties, including assessing investigation costs or the maximum $5,000 administrative fine authorized by statute, saying the findings show substantial forgery and that the board should deter future circulator fraud. Brewer asked the board to present the estimated cost of the investigation at a future meeting and asked the board to consider disqualifying signatures or otherwise imposing penalties. Attorney and signature‑gathering firm representative Jeff Wiggins urged clear timing rules for sponsors to provide exemplars and asked the board to ensure enforcement against individual circulators and campaigns when evidence of forgery exists.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to provide an estimate of the costs associated with the canvass/investigation (for possible assessment against the sponsoring campaign) and to return with options for penalties and next steps at the board’s next meeting. Staff said it can provide a cost estimate for the board’s meeting on July 31.
