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.
If
informal methods are not successful, then the Secretary of State shall commence
an administrative hearing for the enforcement of any civil penalty or refer the
matter to the Attorney General's office for the enforcement of any criminal
penalty.
Complaints posted pursuant to MCL 169.215(10)