VOTER SIG. STAMP; BALLOT LANGUAGE                                                 H.B. 4478 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4478 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Andy Schor

House Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Senate Committee:  Local Government and Elections

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow a person who was unable to write, or was unable to sign his or her name due to a physical disability, to make his or her mark or use a signature stamp on a voter registration application or an election document.

"Election document" would include, but not be limited to, all of the following: a voter application; an absent voter ballot application; an emergency absent voter ballot application; and an absent voter ballot return envelope.  "Physical disability" would mean that term as defined in the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act (a determinable physical characteristic that may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth, or functional disorder).

Currently, if an applicant for voter registration is unable to write, he or she must execute the registration affidavit by making his or her mark, and the date of the applicant's birth, and other identifying information, must be noted on the registration card.  The bill would replace this provision, and extend the use of a mark or signature stamp to an election document, as described above.

The bill also would revise a provision that requires the Elections Director, with the approval of the State Board of Canvassers, to prepare a statement of the purpose of a proposed amendment or question to be submitted to the voters under Article IV, Section 34 of the State Constitution.  Under the bill, that would be required if the Legislature did not provide for the content of the question to be submitted to the voters.  (Under Article IV, Section 34, any bill passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, except a bill appropriating money, may provide that it will not become law unless approved by a majority of the electors voting on it.)

MCL 168.32 et al.                                                       Legislative Analyst:  Suzanne Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  3-27-14                                                    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.