BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS: MODIFY                                                                   S.B. 1012:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1012 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Robertson

Committee:  Elections and Government Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

-- Require instructions printed on a ballot secrecy sleeve to state that there "may be multiple party selections", rather than stating that there "are two party selections".

-- Require instructions printed on a ballot secrecy sleeve to direct electors to darken a box on the ballot rather than complete an arrow.

-- Require the Board of State Canvassers or a county board of election commissioners to notify a public officer of a recall petition within three business days, rather than 24 hours, after receiving the petition.

The Election Law requires specific ballot marking instructions to be printed on the front of the ballot secrecy sleeve, or placed in a clear pocket on the front of the ballot secrecy sleeve, used at a general election. The General Election, Nonpartisan Election, and Special Election sections of these instructions direct a voter to "complete the arrow opposite each choice". The bill instead would direct a voter to "completely darken the box opposite each choice". The bill would make the same change in instructions for write-in candidates.

The Law also requires that a petition for the recall of a person holding State or local office meet certain requirements. The Board of State Canvassersor or the board of county election commissioners, within 24 hours after receiving a petition for the recall of a State or local officer, as applicable, must notify the officer of each reason stated in the recall petition and of the date of the meeting of the board to consider whether each reason is factual and of sufficient clarity.

Under the bill, the State or county board would have three business days after receiving a recall petition to provide this notice.

MCL 168.736b et al.                                                  Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  5-22-18                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.