Legislation would reform petition process for ballot proposals

Ballot campaigns would no longer be allowed to pay petition circulators based on the number of signatures they collect if a state house bill becomes law.

The measure was introduced just days after Michigan voters rejected all six proposals on the November ballot.

Republican state Representative Ken Horn said paying for signatures is an incentive for circulators to mislead voters.         

“Our citizens should be confident that when they walk up to a petitioner that that petitioner actually understands what they’re having you sign, so they can explain it properly, that they’re involved in this grassroots effort, and that this has some meaning to it,” Horn said.

Horn says campaigns could still pay petitioners by the hour, just not per-signature.

The bill would also require paid circulators to disclose who they’re working for to anyone who asks.