LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Two democrat-backed petition initiatives will be on the November ballot.
The Michigan Supreme Court on Thursday directed the state Board of Canvassers to certify the Reproductive Freedom for All petition and the Promote the Vote petition, which places the issues before voters in the general election.
The Reproductive Freedom for All petition aims to eliminate the state’s 1931 law that bans all abortions except to save the life of the mother.
The Promote the Vote petition aims to change the state’s election laws, including requiring nine days of early, in-person voting, among other things.
On August 31, the Board voted 2-2 on party lines rejecting the initiatives. The Republican members of the board cited concerns about the language on the petitions as reasons for denying certification.
In both of its orders, the state’s highest court noted, “The Board’s [Board of Canvassers] duty with respect to petitions is ‘limited to determining the sufficiency of a petition’s form and content and whether there are sufficient signatures to warrant certification.'”
Justices Brian Zahra and David Viviano wrote dissenting opinions on both decisions. You can read both of the court’s orders here.
Friday, September 9 was the deadline for the Michigan Supreme Court to decide on the matters, as ballots are required to be finalized by that date.
If the two measures are passed by voters this November, they would become constitutional amendments.
