Michigan ballot initiative knocked off the ballot by a three-signature shortfall

A grassroots effort to place a constitutional amendment on Michigan's November 3 ballot—mandating citizenship verification for voter registration and photo identification for voting—was rejected after the Board of State Canvassers found only 626 valid signatures in a random 1,000-sample audit, three short of the required 629. The board's vote was split, with two Republicans supporting certification and two Democrats opposing, resulting in no certification under state law.

Petition sponsors sought relief from the Michigan Supreme Court on August 27 and, after receiving no response, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Justice Brett Kavanaugh set a deadline that was missed and then denied the emergency request. On September 3, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a 16-page opinion granting the board discretion but urging the legislature to set clearer timelines. Advocates plan to try again in 2028, citing the procedural flaws that prevented the measure from reaching voters.