ELECTION NOMINATING PETITIONS

& VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS

House Bill 5152

Sponsor:  Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons

Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Complete to 2-3-14

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5152 AS INTRODUCED 11-14-13

House Bill 5152 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.509gg & 168.544c) (1) to specify that a voter's signature on a nominating petition is invalid if the voter does not include his or her signature, street address and rural route, and date of signing on nominating petitions, and (2) prohibit elections clerks from releasing any portion of a registered voter's social security number.

Nominating Petitions

Currently under the law, the secretary of state prescribes the format of the nominating petition that candidates and their volunteers circulate.  The form requires space for those signing the petition to list their name (signed and printed), address, and the date; and, for those circulating the petition to do the same, as well as attesting they are registered voters and eligible circulators.  The law specifies that a person's printed name does not constitute the signature of the circulator or elector.  It also says that failure of a petition circulator or voter who signs a nominating petition to print his or her name or to enter a zip code or a correct zip code does not affect the validity of the signature of the circulator or voter signing the petition.

House Bill 5152 would retain all of these provisions, and add if an elector [voter] does not include his or her signature, his or her street address or rural route, or the date of signing on the petition, the elector's signature is invalid and shall not be counted by a filing official.

 

Voter Registration Records

The Michigan Election Law now exempts certain information included in an elector's voter registration record from the Freedom of Information Act, and an election clerk is prohibited from releasing a copy of that portion of the registration record.  An election clerk cannot release the following information:  

o                   that a person declined to register to vote;

o                   the office that received a registered voter's application;

o                   a registered voter's driver's license or state personal identification card number;

o                   the month and day of birth of a registered voter;

o                   the telephone number provided by the registered voter; and

o                   the digitized signature of an elector that is transmitted to the Qualified Voter File.

House Bill 5152 would retain all of these provisions, and also prohibit an election clerk from releasing any part of a registered voter's social security number.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Marilyn Peterson

■ 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.