A ballot initiative to ban corporations with large existing or pending government contracts from making political campaign contributions delivered its petition summary and its form to the Michigan Bureau of Elections on Monday, moving it a step closer to potential approval and signature gathering.

Michiganders for Money Out of Politics in a news release announced that its summary and form are now before the Board of State Canvassers, which must meet within the next 30 days to either approve or deny the language for the 2026 general election.

The initiative aims to ban large monopolies, like the state’s regulated utility utilities DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, from influencing Michigan politics and elections via campaign and political action committee contributions.

The ballot committee, backed by the Taking Back Our Power coalition, said in June that an affirmative vote at the initiative at the ballot box from Michiganders would restore the state’s democratic systems by putting people over corporate profits.

The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics coalition includes Clean Water Action, Climate Cabinet, Community Change Action, Detroit Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Action, MOSES Action, Progress Michigan, and Voters Not Politicians.

On Monday, with the delivery of its materials to the state, the committee said it was hopeful the board would move the initiative forward.

“It’s time to end the corporate capture of our government by big corporations like DTE, Consumers, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Voters across the political spectrum know why our politicians continually fail us – because they are prioritizing corporate donors, not voters,” Christy McGillivray, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, said in a statement.

If approved, the initiative will need to collect 356,958 valid signatures in 180 days to put the initiative before voters on the November 2026 ballot.

“Now begins our grassroots campaign to ensure that our lawmakers are putting the needs of their constituents first,” Sean McBrearty, Michigan director of Clean Water Action, said in a statement. “This campaign will not be won overnight, it is truly a David vs. Goliath struggle and we invite every voter in Michigan to visit mopupmichigan.org to learn more and get involved in this critical fight.”