SB 1209 Summary

• Prohibits individuals employed by organizations to circulate ballot question petitions from intentionally making false statements or misrepresentations about the petition's contents, purport, or effect to signers or potential signers.

• Prohibits employed circulators from knowingly and willfully circulating, publishing, or exhibiting false statements or misrepresentations about constitutional amendments, initiatives, or referendums for the purpose of obtaining signatures.

• Applies the same prohibitions and penalties to individuals employed to circulate recall petitions, with identical restrictions on false statements and misrepresentations.

• Invalidates all signatures obtained by any circulator who violates these provisions, requiring such signatures not be counted toward petition signature requirements.

• Adds sections 484a and 956a to Michigan election law (1954 PA 116) to establish these restrictions for ballot question petitions and recall petitions respectively.