How many signatures are needed for certification?

161, 305 signatures, or 5% of the total votes cast for governor must be gathered and submitted to the Michigan Board of Canvassers for certification.

When will the issue be placed on the ballot?

Once the signatures are verified the language will appear on the ballot in November 2012.

Is there a petition description, what’s the petition “language”?

A PETITION for a referendum election to repeal Public Act 4 of 2011, which allows the governor to declare a local government or school district in receivership and appoint an emergency manager to take control with the following powers, among others: to assume the powers of local elected officials; to take control of revenue and spending;  to terminate, modify and renegotiate contracts; to refuse to bargain with employee representatives; to take control of employee pension funds under certain circumstances; and with the governor’s approval, to sell public assets or dissolve a city, township or county.

This referendum proposal is to be voted on at the General Election, November 6, 2012.

Can I volunteer for the repeal effort and other petition drives?

Yes, volunteers can carry more than one petition as long as they are a registered voter in the State of Michigan.  We strongly encourage all volunteers to receive message and petition circulating training from Michigan Forward or are ally partners.  You can volunteer to repeal Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law here.

What happens after certification?

The purpose of the repeal campaign is to suspend Public Act 4 of 2011 “The Local Government and School District Accountability Act.” After the Michigan Board of Canvassers certifies that we have collected the valid number of signatures, we prepare for Public Act 4 to be placed on the November 2012 ballot to let the voters decide.

Has there been a ballot question committee set-up for this effort?

Yes, the name of the campaign committee is Stand Up for Democracy.

Where can I find a petition?

There are campaign sites across Michigan, to find the campaign site nearest you, click here.

Who’s involved?

The campaign to repeal Public Act 4 has thousands of volunteers who have worked diligently to circulate over 70,000 petitions.  This bi-partisan campaign to repeal Michigan’s emergency manager law has recruited thousands of committed volunteers for this effort.

The following organizations have provided their voice to the cause:

• Advancement Project
• American Federation of Teachers  — Michigan (AFT)
• Ann Arbor Educators Association
• Center for Community Driven Policy Making
• Central United Methodist Church
• Committee to Recall Rick Snyder (CRRS)
• Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity
• Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT)
• Michigan AFSCME Local Council 25
• Michigan Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
• Michigan Democratic Justice Caucus
• Michigan Education Association (MEA)
• Michigan Forward
• Michigan Young Democrats
• NAACP
• Rainbow PUSH Michigan
• Reject Emergency Managers
• UAW Local 6000
• Washtenaw Community Action Team
• We Are The People – Michigan