Board hearing spotlighted petition-timing dispute for Invest in My Kids and minor typos in petition manual

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on July 10 heard public comment and staff explanation about a contested sequence of petition submissions from Invest in My Kids and two typographical errors in the Bureau of Elections’ petition manual.

Attorney John Lidl, speaking for Invest in My Kids, told the board the organization first filed a proposed constitutional amendment on June 4, then withdrew that petition and submitted a new version on June 16. Lidl said the Bureau of Elections should treat the June 16 filing as the operative submission and that the board’s earlier action at its July 10 meeting had missed the 30‑day statutory deadline to approve or reject the June 16 submission. Lidl also asked the board to correct two typographical errors in the ballot question manual before final adoption: a misrendered checkbox character on page 18 (section k, certificate of circulator) and a misspelling of “Michigan” in an email address on page 8.

Why it matters: The board’s statutory duty to approve or reject petition summary language triggers specific deadlines under MCL 168.482(b). Lidl argued the bureau’s timeline and the board’s motion to treat July 10 as a new filing date altered those deadlines in a way that could deny Invest in My Kids an on‑time decision. Acting Deputy Director (serving as acting director) summarized the bureau’s timeline for the board: the bureau posted a notice June 10 after the June 4 filing; the sponsor emailed a withdrawal and resubmission on June 16; the bureau posted a draft summary on June 23 for the June 27 meeting; staff received additional form changes on July 2 (including a QR code and a revised instructional line); after the board rescinded approval of summary language at the July 10 meeting the bureau posted the July 2 version on July 14 and opened a public comment period that closes July 21; staff plans to take the item up at the board’s July 31 meeting.

During public comment, Eric Doster of Small Business for a Better Michigan told the board he believes Invest in My Kids “voluntarily withdrew its June 4 petition on June 16” and that the sponsor then had the option to resubmit but did not inform the bureau or others that the new filing required a fresh public comment period. Doster urged the board to hold petition sponsors responsible for clear notification when they withdraw and resubmit proposals.

The acting deputy director told the board staff had posted the petition version that reflected the July 2 changes and gave two calendar options for when the bureau’s 30‑day review period would run: 30 days from July 2 (August 1) or, if the board treats July 10 as the official filing date per its motion, August 9. The bureau said it will present the item for board consideration at the July 31 meeting and that it will post an amended, corrected manual and the petition materials for public comment.

Board action and outlook: The board did not make a final, dispositive ruling on the statutory timing argument at this meeting; staff and members discussed the timeline and the bureau committed to post the corrected petition form and the draft summary for public comment ahead of the July 31 meeting. The bureau also agreed to correct the two typographical errors Lidl identified before finalizing the ballot question manual.