Election officials eye ballot access changes amid "enterprise for bad actors"

Major changes to Michigan's ballot access laws are in the works after the signature-gathering process knocked out big-name candidates in the state's most recent election cycles.

Why it matters: Yet-to-be unveiled legislation could make it easier for candidates to get on the ballot by changing aspects of the signature-gathering process.

• One of the lawmakers leading the effort says it would also bring greater accountability for shady petition-gathering practices that tanked the campaigns of several congressional hopefuls last month and shaped the last gubernatorial race.

The intrigue: State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), who chairs the state's elections and ethics committee, tells Axios that he and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have spoken about a policy overhaul for candidates trying to get on the ballot.

• Moss mentioned the potential for a blanket $100 entry fee for certain local candidates instead of requiring a collection of signatures.

What they're saying: Benson told the Detroit News last week that there's been "a strange uptick" in ballot petition fraud over the last five to seven years.

• "I started to dig around and found out people can just lie ," Moss says. "Now lying is the tool, deception is what gets more signatures. It's become an enterprise for bad actors."

State of play: Attorney General Dana Nessel filed felony charges against three individuals alleging a "criminal conspiracy" to intentionally defraud candidates in 2022.

• Nessel announced this month the defendants will face trial after allegedly charging campaigns $700,000 for valid signature collection, then knowingly delivering tens of thousands of forged signatures on nomination petitions to eight of the campaigns.

Catch up quick: Former state Sen. Adam Hollier, who was running to defeat incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit), was the biggest name of the eight congressional candidates removed from the Aug. 6 primary by the State Board of Canvassers due to the lack of valid signatures .

Flashback: Nominating petitions filled with fraudulent signatures ended the campaigns of five Republican candidates for governor two years ago, including former Detroit police chief James Craig, who was viewed as a front-runner.

• Moss and Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) introduced legislation in past sessions that would hold petition firms accountable for deploying circulators who mislead signers and allow voters to remove their signature from a petition after signing it.
• The Republican-led Legislature never acted on the proposals.