Michigan Canvassers Deadlock on Citizenship Verification Ballot Proposal
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on a proposal that would require voters to prove U.S. citizenship, preventing it from appearing on the November ballot. Backers of the amendment, who submitted over 700,000 signatures, plan to appeal the decision…
Detroit, MI, August 26, 2026 —
LANSING, Mich. – A proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution that would require voters to prove U.S. citizenship to cast a ballot has been prevented from appearing on the November ballot due to a deadlock vote by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.
The board, comprised of two Republican and two Democratic members, was unable to reach a consensus on the measure. This prevents the proposal from advancing further at this stage.
Supporters of the amendment, who gathered more than 700,000 signatures to put the measure before the board, have announced their intention to appeal the decision to the Michigan Supreme Court. The specific details of the appeal process and timeline were not immediately available.
The proposal, if it were to have advanced, would have introduced a new requirement for voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote or when casting a ballot. The details regarding what would constitute acceptable proof of citizenship were part of the proposed amendment language.
The deadlocking vote by the Board of State Canvassers means the measure will not be presented to voters in the upcoming general election. The next step for the amendment’s backers hinges on the outcome of their planned appeal to the state’s highest court.
Story summarized from the original created by Hayley Harding on www.bridgedetroit.com, see more information here.
