MINOR PARTY PRES. CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE

House Bill 5082

Sponsor:  Rep. Leon Drolet

Committee:  House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics

Complete to 2-21-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5082 AS INTRODUCED 8-10-05

House Bill 5082 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.686) to specify a new filing deadline for "minor political party" (or third party) presidential candidates.

Under the bill, in each presidential election year, the state central committee of each minor political party would be required—after its state or national convention, whichever was later, and not less than 60 days before the general election—to forward to the secretary of state the typewritten or printed names of the candidates of that party for the offices of president and vice president of the United States, certified to by the chairperson and secretary of the committees.

Under the bill, "minor political party' would mean that term as defined in section 10 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.  (See Background Information.)

Currently, the act requires the state central committee of each political party to forward its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the secretary of state no more than one business day after the state convention or national convention, whichever is later.  The current provision would be amended to apply only to "major" political parties.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act:

1) “Major political party” means a political party qualified to have its name listed on the general election ballot whose candidate for governor received 25 percent or more of the popular vote cast in the preceding gubernatorial election. If only one political party received 25 percent or more of the popular vote cast for governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, then the political party with the second highest vote shall be deemed a major party.

(2) “Minor political party” means a political party qualified to have its name listed on the general election ballot but which does not qualify as a major party.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault     

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.