INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITION SIZE
House Bill 5214
Sponsor: Rep. Leon Drolet
Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Complete to 11-3-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5214 AS INTRODUCED 10-30-03
House Bill 5214 would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow petition sheets to be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches, in addition to their customary size of 8-1/2 inches by 14 inches.
Currently the law requires that each petition be 8-1/2 inches by 14 inches in size. Instead, the bill would require that each petition “sheet” be that size, and also add that it must be in horizontal format, and contain no fewer than seven signature lines.
Further, an exception to the size requirement would be allowed. The bill specifies that an 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch petition sheet could be used if it otherwise complied with the law, and if both of the following conditions were met:
a) the full text of the proposal was able to be printed on one or both sides of the 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches petition sheet; and
b) each petition sheet that was submitted was 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size.
MCL 168.482
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.