WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE S.B. 462: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 462 (as introduced 5-5-05)
Sponsor: Senator Michael Switalski
Committee: Government Operations
Date Completed: 5-24-05
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to change the deadline to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
Under the Law, the board of election inspectors may not count a write-in vote for a person unless he or she has filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. A write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the filing official for the elective office on or before 4 p.m. on the Friday immediately preceding the election. The bill would change that deadline to 4 p.m. on the Tuesday immediately before the election.
In addition, the Law provides that, if a candidate whose name is printed on the official ballot for the election dies or is otherwise disqualified on or after the Wednesday immediately preceding the election, the declaration-of-intent deadline for a write-in candidate does not apply, and the board of election inspectors must count all write-in votes. Under the bill, the write-in filing deadline would not apply if a candidate on the official ballot died or otherwise were disqualified on or after the second Friday before the election.
MCL 168.737a Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Bill Bowerman
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. sb462/0506