Grand Rapids Reporter

An organization spearheading the "Secure MI Vote" initiative has claimed that its opponent was involved in a "scheme to pay off" petition circulators.

The scheme made headlines last week, and a complaint said the effort is in violation of campaign finance laws. 

"We are witnessing Protect the Vote engage in suppression," Landen Chulski, Republican activist and Eagle Scout, told the Grand Rapids Reporter recently. "Every Michigander should be outraged that we are being massively manipulated by out-of-state special interests."

"Protect MI Vote" is an organization that opposes the Republican-led ballot measure "Secure MI Vote," a recent report from Bridge Michigan said. Protect MI Vote recently hired a Missouri-based consulting firm to contract with and “secretly buy out” circulators so they would not work for the conservative campaign.

Secure MI Vote is among the more than 12 petitions that are trying to get on the November ballot, the Bridge Michigan report said.

“Protect MI Vote’s scheme to pay off circulators not to engage in the Secure MI Vote Initiative Petition is deplorable on its face and has no place in Michigan elections,” a complaint by professional signature gatherer Dustin Wefel said, which was first reported by The Detroit News.

A supermajority, 76%, of Michiganders support showing an ID in order to vote, a statewide survey from earlier this year revealed.

Voters currently do not have to show a photo ID to register to vote, a release from the Michigan Secretary of State's office said. A utility bill can serve as a form of ID.

“Protect MI Vote is only protecting the right to cheat," Secure MI Vote spokesperson Jamie Roe said in the Bridge Michigan report. “We have long heard rumors of Protect MI Vote’s illegal scheme, but could not prove it until Dustin Wefel bravely came forward to expose it."

Michiganders can learn more about Secure Michigan Vote and sign up to receive a petition at securemivote.org.