Michigan Civil Rights Initiative v. Board of State Canvassers

i. nature op the case

The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) complaint for mandamus asks this Court to direct the Board of State Canvassers to certify initiative petitions for placement on the November 2006 ballot. MCRI needed 317,757 signatures to qualify for the ballot and obtained and submitted 508,202 signatures. In 2003, the identical petitions in issue were approved by the board for form and language. But, thereafter, the circuit court held that the form did not comply with MCL 168.482(3). On appeal, a panel of our Court expedited the appeal, held that the circuit court erred,…