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YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS WILL CONDUCT A MEETING ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006 AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE LAW LIBRARY LOCATED ON THE 1ST FLOOR OF THE G. MENNEN WILLIAMS BUILDING, 525 WEST OTTAWA, LANSING, MICHIGAN.

Included on the Agenda will be:

• Consideration of initiative petition submitted for approval as to form by Unicameral Michigan, 416 S. Broadway, Hastings, Michigan 49058. (Petition would amend the State Constitution to abolish the Michigan State Senate.)
• Determination of ballot wording for statewide ballot proposal sponsored by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative Committee, P.O. Box 1398, Southgate, Michigan 48195. (In an order issued on December 22, 2005, the Michigan Court of Appeals directed the Board of State Canvassers "to approve a statement of the purpose of the constitutional amendment pursuant to MCL 168.22e on or before January 20, 2006.")

Such other and further business as may be properly presented to the Board.

_______________________________
Christopher M. Thomas, Secretary
Board of State Canvassers

BALLOT WORDING PREPARED AND SUBMITTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS ON JANUARY 6, 2006

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR CONTRACTING PURPOSES

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Ban public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts.
• Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provision of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.)

Should this proposal be adopted?        Yes _____     No _____

A person may address the Board on any agenda item at the end of the meeting. A person who wishes to address the Board on an agenda item at the time the item is being discussed must submit a written request to the Chairperson of the Board prior to the opening of the meeting. Persons addressing the Board are allotted three minutes.

People with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in this meeting should contact Lydia Valles at (517) 241-4662 (voice) or (517) 241-4320 (TDD) one day in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.