Citizen-led petition drives for traditional marriage have proved overwhelmingly successful once again as pro-family organizers in Michigan gathered and submitted nearly 500,000 signatures to state election officials on Monday, July 5, 2004.

Of the half-million signatures, only 317,757 need to be validated for a state marriage amendment measure to be placed on the November 2 ballot.

The successful drive followed similar victories in Oregon and Arkansas, where traditional marriage advocates gathered and submitted 244,000 and 200,693 signatures last week respectively. Only half those amounts need be validated for the issue to go on the state ballots.

"The people responded," said Marlene Elwell, the president of Michigan’s Citizens for the Protection of Marriage. "They're tired of politicians and activist judges making changes without having a voice. This gives them a voice."

Gay marriage is already banned in Michigan, but with the realization of the infamous decision by the Massachusetts court to legalize such “unions” earlier this year, pro-family advocates are fighting for a state amendment with stronger wording that would be protected from potential judicial decisions in the future.