Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 168 / Act 116 of 1954
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a (2026)

Recall petition under MCL 168.959; requirements; submission to board of state canvassers; determination that reason for recall is factual and of sufficient clarity; notice; meeting; presentation of arguments; appeal; validity of petition.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW


Act 116 of 1954


168.951a Recall petition under MCL 168.959; requirements; submission to board of state canvassers; determination that reason for recall is factual and of sufficient clarity; notice; meeting; presentation of arguments; appeal; validity of petition.

Sec. 951a.

    (1) A petition for the recall of an officer listed in section 959 must meet all of the following requirements:

    (a) Comply with section 544c(1) and (2).

    (b) Be printed.

    (c) State factually and clearly each reason for the recall. Each reason for the recall must be based upon the officer's conduct during his or her current term of office. The reason for the recall may be typewritten. If any reason for the recall is based on the officer's conduct in connection with specific legislation, the reason for the recall must not misrepresent the content of the specific legislation.

    (d) Contain a certificate of the circulator. The certificate of the circulator may be printed on the reverse side of the petition.

    (e) Be in a form prescribed by the secretary of state.

    (2) Before being circulated, a petition for the recall of an officer under subsection (1) must be submitted to the board of state canvassers.

    (3) The board of state canvassers, not less than 10 days or more than 20 days after submission to it of a petition for the recall of an officer under subsection (1), shall meet and shall determine by an affirmative vote of 3 of the members serving on the board of state canvassers whether each reason for the recall stated in the petition is factual and of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall. If any reason for the recall is not factual or of sufficient clarity, the entire recall petition must be rejected. Failure of the board of state canvassers to meet as required by this subsection constitutes a determination that each reason for the recall stated in the petition is factual and of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is being sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall.

    (4) The board of state canvassers, not later than 3 business days after receipt of a petition for the recall of an officer as provided under subsection (2), shall notify the officer whose recall is sought of each reason stated in the recall petition and of the date of the meeting of the board of state canvassers to consider whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity.

    (5) The officer whose recall is sought and the sponsors of the recall petition may appear at the meeting and present arguments on whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity.

    (6) The determination by the board of state canvassers may be appealed by the officer whose recall is sought or by the sponsors of the recall petition drive to the court of appeals. The appeal must be filed not more than 10 days after the determination of the board of state canvassers. If a determination of the board of state canvassers is appealed to the court of appeals, the recall petition is not valid for circulation and must not be circulated until a determination of whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity is made by the court of appeals or until 40 days after the date of the appeal, whichever is sooner.

    (7) A petition is not valid for circulation if at any time the court of appeals determines that each reason on the recall petition is not factual and of sufficient clarity.

    (8) A recall petition is valid for 180 days after either of the following, whichever occurs later:

    (a) The date of determination of whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity by the board of state canvassers.

    (b) The sooner of the following:

    (i) The date of determination of whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity by the court of appeals.

    (ii) Subject to subsection (7), 40 days after the date of the appeal under subsection (6).

    (9) A recall petition that is filed after the 180-day period described in subsection (8) is not valid and must not be accepted by the filing official under section 961. This subsection does not prohibit a person from resubmitting a recall petition for a determination of sufficient clarity and factualness under this section.

History: Add. 2012, Act 417, Imd. Eff. Dec. 20, 2012 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 190, Imd. Eff. June 20, 2018

Compiler's Notes:

    Enacting section 2 of Act 417 of 2012 provides:

    "Enacting section 2. As provided in section 5 of 1846 RS 1, MCL 8.5, this act is severable."

    Enacting section 3 of Act 417 of 2012 provides:

    "Enacting section 3. The legislature recognizes the importance of the electoral process, and it is the intent of the legislature that this amendatory act uphold each of the following:

     (a) Section 4 of article II of the state constitution of 1963.

     (b) Section 8 of article II of the state constitution of 1963.

     (c) Section 26 of article V of the state constitution of 1963."

PopularName Notes:

Election Code
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2018–2023 · leading case: Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 24× “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 24× “After Dimas and Donigan were issued, the Legislature enacted 2012 PA 417 , which modified various provisions of the Michigan Election Law, and added to it MCL 168.951a. The latter’s Subsection (1) sets forth the requirements for a recall petition, including, under Subdivision…”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 12× “Nonetheless, even if I were free not to follow Hooker, I would independently arrive at the same outcome, because I do not find the quotation from the Governor’s press conference untruthful within the meaning of my reading of MCL 168.951a. Furthermore, I would also continue to…”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 12× “Nonetheless, even if I were free not to follow Hooker, I would independently arrive at the same outcome, because I do not find the quotation from the Governor’s press conference untruthful within the meaning of my reading of MCL 168.951a. Furthermore, I would also continue to…”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer v. Bd. of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 8× “” MCL 168.951a(1)(c). MCL 168.951a(3) provides in pertinent part that the Board “shall determine .”
Richard McCoy v. Berrien Cnty. Clerk (Mich. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 3× “The requirements for a recall petition are addressed in MCL 168.951a. Specifically, MCL 168.951a(1)(a) requires that a recall petition must comply with MCL 168.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(1) — 1 case
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(1)(a) — 1 case
Richard McCoy v. Berrien Cnty. Clerk (Mich. Ct. App. 2023). “The requirements for a recall petition are addressed in MCL 168.951a. Specifically, MCL 168.951a(1)(a) requires that a recall petition must comply with MCL 168.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(1)(c) — 3 cases
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). “After Dimas and Donigan were issued, the Legislature enacted 2012 PA 417 , which modified various provisions of the Michigan Election Law, and added to it MCL 168.951a. The latter’s Subsection (1) sets forth the requirements for a recall petition, including, under Subdivision…”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer v. Bd. of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). “” MCL 168.951a(1)(c). MCL 168.951a(3) provides in pertinent part that the Board “shall determine .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(1)(e) — 1 case
Governor Gretchen Whitmer v. Bd. of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). “” MCL 168.951a(1)(c). MCL 168.951a(3) provides in pertinent part that the Board “shall determine .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(2) — 2 cases
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer v. Bd. of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). “” MCL 168.951a(1)(c). MCL 168.951a(3) provides in pertinent part that the Board “shall determine .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(3) — 3 cases
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). “After Dimas and Donigan were issued, the Legislature enacted 2012 PA 417 , which modified various provisions of the Michigan Election Law, and added to it MCL 168.951a. The latter’s Subsection (1) sets forth the requirements for a recall petition, including, under Subdivision…”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer v. Bd. of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2020). “” MCL 168.951a(1)(c). MCL 168.951a(3) provides in pertinent part that the Board “shall determine .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(6) — 2 cases
Jeremy Hooker v. Brenda M Moore, 928 N.W.2d 287 (Mich. Ct. App. 2018). “In that regard, our Legislature enacted MCL 168.951a, which applies to the attempted recall of a county official other than a county commissioner.”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II v. Bd of State Canvassers (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). “After Dimas and Donigan were issued, the Legislature enacted 2012 PA 417 , which modified various provisions of the Michigan Election Law, and added to it MCL 168.951a. The latter’s Subsection (1) sets forth the requirements for a recall petition, including, under Subdivision…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.951a(8) — 1 case
Richard McCoy v. Berrien Cnty. Clerk (Mich. Ct. App. 2023). “The requirements for a recall petition are addressed in MCL 168.951a. Specifically, MCL 168.951a(1)(a) requires that a recall petition must comply with MCL 168.”
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