Resolved Campaign Finance Complaints

Michigan Campaign Finance Act

Section 15(5) of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, 1976 P.A. 388, as amended, allows a person to file a complaint which alleges a violation of the Act with the Secretary of State.  Section 15(6) requires the complaint to be signed by the complainant; list the name, address, and telephone number of the complainant; and include a certification by the complainant that "to the best of the complainant's knowledge, information, and belief, formed after a reasonable inquiry under the circumstance, each factual contention of the complaint is supported by evidence." However, if, after a reasonable inquiry under the circumstances, the complainant is unable to certify that certain factual contentions are supported by evidence, the complainant may certify that, the best of his or her "knowledge, information, or belief, there are grounds to conclude that those specifically identified factual contentions are likely to be supported by evidence after a reasonable opportunity for further inquiry." 

A complaint form which satisfies the above requirements can be found here:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Complaint_Process_Info__from_60420_7.pdf.

If the Secretary of State determines that there may be a reason to believe that a violation of this act occurred, Section 15(10) requires the Secretary of State to post that determination on this site, along with the complaint and any response or rebuttal statement received regarding the violation.  The same section directs the Secretary of State try to correct the violation or prevent a further violation by using informal methods such as a conference, conciliation or persuasion.

Complaints posted pursuant to MCL 169.215(10)