Petitions to Recall the Governor Denied

Liz Gullett

Jan 29, 2016

On Thursday, the Board of State Canvassers rejected eight recall petitions filed against Governor Rick Snyder. Each petition included as their main reason the Flint water crisis, but each stated different incidences related to the situation. One stated he should be recalled for “failing to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Flint,” another, “Governor Rick Snyder should be held accountable, for his leadership, in allowing Flint City to continue using Flint river water even after it was discovered that lead was leaching into the drinking water from corroding lead pipes.” The Board heard testimony from several Flint and Genesee County residents, in addition to an attorney representing the Governor. Ultimately, the board unanimously agreed that the petitions did not factually state the reasons for recall, as required under state law. The petitions considered today have not been the first filed to recall the Governor and likely won’t be the last. If a petition form is successfully approved by the board, the petitioner would need to collect the signatures of 789,833 Michigan registered voters within a sixty day time period in order to place the recall on the next election ballot.

Approval was given to a petition filed to recall State Senator Darwin Booher (R-Evart) for his favorable votes on legislation increasing the vehicle registration tax and increasing gas and diesel fuel taxes. MLC will continue to monitor these recall efforts and provide regular updates on their status.

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