Over 270,000 signatures to ban fracking and frack wastes were turned in to Michigan Secretary of State, were turned down, and the petitions got caught up in litigation.

Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan is a ballot question committee formed in 2012. In 2012 and 2013, they began a statewide petition campaign to get a ban on fracking and frack wastes on the ballot. In 2015 they began a third campaign, this time reaching their goal, but doing so over the course of several years, and challenging the constitutionality of the law that restricts signature-gathering. These dedicated volunteers turned in over 270,000 signatures, all collected in person from Michigan voters, on November 5, 2018. The signatures were turned down by the Secretary of State. The Committee  put the petitions in safe storage, sued the state and won in the Michigan Court of Appeals that the front of the petition was valid. Submitting the petitions in 2020 during the midst of the pandemic, the signatures once again were caught in litigation, losing twice in the courts, and falling into a newly-formed loophole in the law where the Michigan Supreme Court was the only court to hear any decisions over Board of State Canvassers decisions and if the court refused to hear the case, it was a dead end.

For up to date information about the Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan, go to www.LetsBanFracking.org.  Since the Committee is an all-volunteer, grassroots group, it seeks donations large and small from ordinary people. You don’t need to be a Michigan resident to contribute. Go here to donate to the campaign.