DETROIT (AP) -- Political observers say a long ballot full of candidates and proposals that Michigan voters will face in November is the final product of more legal tussles than they can recall.

Several high-stakes ballot proposals were challenged all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court. The justice system also is playing a part in the party switch of a west Michigan Democrat-turned-Republican, staffers accused of falsifying petition signatures on behalf of former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter and the very ballot application voters fill out.

Gov. Rick Snyder's senior policy adviser Bill Rustem believes special interests are disregarding representative democracy with all the ballot proposals and it's contributing to political divisiveness.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says the system isn't perfect but the state constitution provides for "people speaking their minds."

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