Michigan’s biggest, most recent experiment in pitch-fork raising is nearing a critical juncture.
The group attempting to recall Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has until Aug. 4 to collect at least 806,000 valid signatures to call for a recall election, and organizers of the effort say even they are unsure how many signatures have been collected.
Unlike past professionally run ballot measure efforts, this is a loosely organized, grassroots effort that is relying mostly on volunteers to gather petition signatures.
Organizers are encouraged by the number of blank petitions being requested by volunteers, but have no idea how many are being filled with signatures, or whether volunteers will mail them to organizers by Aug. 4.
If the petition effort is successful, it will set some kind of new record. Most statewide petition efforts cost $1 million or more, but organizers say they have raised $25,000 so far.
