Michigan Ballot Proposal Would Require Proof of Citizenship and Photo ID to Vote

Group says it submitted more than 750,000 petition signatures to place the election requirements before Michigan voters.

LANSING, Mich. — A group advocating for changes to Michigan election law says it has submitted more than 750,000 petition signatures in support of a proposed statewide ballot initiative that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, mandate photo identification at the polls and require a systematic review of the state’s voter rolls.

Americans for Citizen Voting announced the submission during a press conference in Lansing. Under Michigan law, at least 446,198 valid signatures are required to qualify a citizen-led proposal for the statewide ballot.

The organization said its petition drive gathered signatures from all 83 Michigan counties and was supported by paid circulators and volunteers.

“More than seven hundred and fifty thousand Michiganders made their voices heard,” said Paul Jacob, chair of Americans for Citizen Voting. “They support citizen-only voting, they support photo ID, and they support maintaining a clean and accurate voter file.”

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If the signatures are validated by state officials, the proposal could appear on a future statewide ballot, giving voters the opportunity to decide whether to adopt the requirements.

Former Michigan Secretary of State and current state Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, said the initiative reflects voter concerns about election security.

“People want secure elections and clean voter rolls,” Johnson said. “They want to know that only eligible citizens are voting, that photo ID is required at the polls, and that the state is taking seriously its responsibility to maintain an accurate Qualified Voter File.”

Opponents of the proposal say stricter voting requirements could create barriers for some eligible voters. Voting rights groups argue that requiring documentary proof of citizenship or stronger identification rules may make it harder for some people to register or cast a ballot, particularly those who do not have easy access to documents like passports or birth certificates. Critics also say instances of noncitizen voting are extremely rare and that Michigan already has safeguards in place to verify voter eligibility.

Supporters of the proposal argue the changes would strengthen election integrity and public confidence in the voting process.

State Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, praised the petition drive and said the issue has drawn significant public attention.

“As a former clerk, I applaud this campaign to restore integrity,” Bollin said. “I sincerely thank all of the volunteers and residents who gathered and signed petitions to help secure our elections.”

State Rep. Rachelle Smit, R-Martin Township, who chairs the Michigan House Election Integrity Committee, also voiced support for the initiative.

“We know the public wants photo ID for voting and for only citizens to vote,” Smit said. “Today the people of Michigan sent a very strong message with the number of signatures that have been collected.”

Critics of similar proposals in other states have argued that stricter voter requirements could create barriers for some eligible voters, particularly those who may have difficulty obtaining identification or documentation.

The Michigan Bureau of Elections will review the submitted signatures to determine whether enough valid signatures were collected to move the proposal forward in the certification process.

If approved for the ballot, Michigan voters would ultimately decide whether the proposed requirements become law.